City · Oklahoma
Nowata, Oklahoma
Nowata, city, in Nowata County, Oklahoma. Nowata had 3,584 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.7% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 3,517 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 3,542 (±34). GEOID 4052900.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
3,584
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 3,517 · ACS 2020-2024: 3,542 ±34
Median household income
$47,776
±$12,312 (90% margin)
Oklahoma: $65,039
Median home value
$89,900
±$12,298 (90% margin)
Oklahoma: $199,800
Median gross rent
$752
±$215 (90% margin)
Oklahoma: $1,014
Where is Nowata and what county is it in?
Nowata is a city in Nowata County, Oklahoma. It covers 3.4 square miles of land, 1,033 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Nowata, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 3,584 people lived in Nowata on July 1, 2025, up 2.7% since 2020, slower than Oklahoma (+4.1%). The 2020 Census counted 3,517 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 3,542 (±34).
| Measure | Nowata | Nowata County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 3,542 ±34 | 9,435 | −97 |
| Households | 1,411 ±93 | 3,686 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.40 ±0.16 | 2.52 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 1,735 ±101 | 4,362 | no clear change |
Nowata's population since 2000
From 3,971 in 2000 to 3,584 in 2025: down 9.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Nowata as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Nowata?
The median resident of Nowata is 37.8 years old; 24.4% are under 18 and 18.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 63.8%, then non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native residents at 14.7%.
| Measure | Nowata | Nowata County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 ±1.6 | 41.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 24.4% ±2.4 pts | 23.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.8% ±2.8 pts | 19.9% | – |
| Male | 46.8% ±3.5 pts | 49.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.9% ±1.6 pts | 3.2% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 63.8% ±4.2 pts | 64.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.2% ±2.4 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.6 pts | 0.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 14.7% ±3.0 pts | 15.4% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.7 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 12.0% ±3.3 pts | 14.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.8 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.6% ±0.6 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.6% ±1.9 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.0% ±1.7 pts | 4.1% | – |
| With a disability | 23.9% ±4.7 pts | 20.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 17.2% ±3.1 pts | 15.2% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.4% ±2.9 pts | 91.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 13.2% ±3.5 pts | 16.8% | +6.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.7% ±2.6 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 81.7% ±5.6 pts | 86.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 2.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Nowata earn?
Half of Nowata's 1,411 households earn less than $47,776 a year (±$12,312), against $54,333 in Nowata County and $65,039 in Oklahoma. In 2015-2019 it was $39,879 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 25.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Nowata | Nowata County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $47,776 ±$12,312 | $54,333 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $57,967 ±$7,994 | $76,254 | – |
| Per capita income | $24,346 ±$3,400 | $30,891 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 25.5% ±5.5 pts | 17.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 29.1% ±10.4 pts | 23.0% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 26.1% ±6.4 pts | 17.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 90.6% ±3.8 pts | 91.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 79.9% ±6.4 pts | 73.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Nowata?
Owners occupy 61.0% of Nowata's occupied homes and renters 39.0%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $89,900 by its owner (±$12,298). The median renter pays $752 a month including utilities, and 26.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Nowata | Nowata County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $89,900 ±$12,298 | $137,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $752 ±$215 | $811 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 26.3% ±12.9 pts | 35.1% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,086 ±$116 | $1,232 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 61.0% ±5.9 pts | 73.5% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 39.0% ±5.9 pts | 26.5% | – |
| Housing units | 1,735 ±101 | 4,362 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.8% ±2.0 pts | 1.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.7% ±3.8 pts | 2.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 72.4% ±5.0 pts | 75.4% | – |
| Mobile homes | 9.1% ±3.6 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5% ±0.7 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.9% ±2.0 pts | 8.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 18.7% ±5.2 pts | 11.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.7% ±3.5 pts | 4.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Nowata building?
Builders took permits for 26 new housing units in Nowata in 2025 (26 in single-family houses), 7.3 per 1,000 residents against 3.8 across Oklahoma.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Nowata work and get to work?
69.7% of Nowata's workers drive alone and 8.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 26.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.8%.
| Measure | Nowata | Nowata County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 53.1% ±4.8 pts | 53.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.8% ±3.8 pts | 4.5% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 69.7% ±7.4 pts | 76.6% | – |
| Carpooled | 19.6% ±7.1 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1% ±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Walked | 1.7% ±2.0 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 8.3% ±4.2 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 26.5 min ±3.1 | 28.1 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Nowata?
1 census tract lies mostly in Nowata (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1724Nowata County | 4,218 | $48,837 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Nowata) · Census block assignment files
How does Nowata compare with other places in Oklahoma?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Nowata is the 5,809th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 95th-most populous of 591 in Oklahoma.
Nowata ranks 149th of 228 places in Oklahoma with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 95th | 591 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 90th | 212 |
| Residents per square mile | 60th | 229 |
| Median household income | 149th | 228 |
| Per capita income | 162nd | 229 |
| Median home value | 195th | 228 |
| Median gross rent | 162nd | 223 |
| Poverty rate | 45th | 218 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 164th | 226 |
| Median age | 88th | 229 |
| Owner-occupied share | 155th | 229 |
| Work from home | 57th | 140 |
| Travel time to work | 45th | 229 |
Nowata's figures with every place in Oklahoma (CSV)
Every place in Oklahoma, sortable · Compare Nowata with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Nowata?
13 of the 57 figures for Nowata on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Nowata are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Nowata.