City profile · Oklahoma · Census ACS 2023

Ponca City, OK

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Ponca City - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

24,377
Residents
$55,270
Median income
$127,500
Median home
$937
Median rent (state)

Ponca City - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Ponca City places in the 28th percentile for household income and the 15th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

28th
percentile, household income
20th
percentile, home value
9th
percentile, median rent
15th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Ponca City, OK

24,377 people live in Ponca City, Oklahoma - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Ponca City households earn a median of $55,270 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 12.4%. Ponca City's housing stock carries a median value of $127,500, and the median resident age is 37.2 years. About 20.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 56.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 2 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier. Ponca City's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: FBI UCR reporting places total crime at 3080.0 incidents per 100,000 residents, above the national average (voluntary agency reporting, reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Oklahoma run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Oklahoma scores 87.8 (Well Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $937 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Oklahoma run around $205, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 15.3 minutes, with 78.3% driving alone and 3.4% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 79.9 out of 100 (High).

Population

24,377 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Oklahoma

Median Household Income

$55,270 /yr

Poverty 12.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Oklahoma average

How does Ponca City compare to other US cities?

Here's how Ponca City stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 28% higher than other cities
Home value 20% pricier than other cities
Median rent 9% pricier than other cities
Safety 15% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Oklahoma, Ponca City ranks #173 of 203 Oklahoma cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Ponca City's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Oklahoma, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

28thIncome percentile
15thSafety percentile

28th percentile nationally for median household income · 15th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Ponca City's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Ponca City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 43 Avg. percentile National median
Ponca City's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Ponca City's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$127,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 80% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Ponca City $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Ponca City, OK Ponca City, OK's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Ponca City, OK-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Ponca City, OK median $55,270/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Ponca City, OK's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Ponca City, OK. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 56.2%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
24,377
Median Income
$55,270
Median Home Value
$127,500
Median Age
37.2
Poverty Rate
12.4%
Labor force participation
56.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3080.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
576.5
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2503.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
13
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
24,200 residents24,300 residents24,400 residents24,500 residents 202020212022202320242025 24,353 residents 24,225 residents ▼ -0.5%
Ponca City's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
2
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 9
2021 3
2022 6
2023 75
2024 2

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
15.3 minutes
Drive Alone
78.3%
Carpool
13.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.7%
Work from Home
3.4%
Other
2.7%

Based on 10,429 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Oklahoma - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$115
avg/month
Natural Gas
$50
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$205
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Oklahoma state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Oklahoma state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Ponca City sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$937/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
79.9 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Oklahoma

Ardmore
24,757 people
Yukon
24,802 people
Duncan
22,872 people
Sapulpa
22,268 people
Jenks
26,519 people
Del City
21,561 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Ponca City's 24,377 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Kankakee, IL
24,384 people
Oak Ridge, FL
24,395 people
Oak Harbor, WA
24,396 people
Clinton, IA
24,425 people
Bloomington, CA
24,324 people
Benbrook, TX
24,430 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Ponca City's $55,270 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

California City, CA
$55,271 median income
Wilmington, DE
$55,269 median income
Ingalls Park, IL
$55,268 median income
Sylvan Beach, NY
$55,268 median income
Slippery Rock, PA
$55,272 median income
Buffalo Gap, SD
$55,268 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Ponca City, OK Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Ponca City, OK - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 70.5% 8.3% 12.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9.9% White 70.5% Black or African American 3.5% Asian 0.8% American Indian 8.3% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 4.0% Two or more races 12.8% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Ponca City compares to nearby Oklahoma cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Ponca City (this city) 24,377 $55,270
Ardmore 24,757 $52,954
Yukon 24,802 $76,408
Duncan 22,872 $57,020
Census ACS 5-year FIPS OK FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Ponca City, OK?

What is the population of Ponca City, OK? +

24,377 people live in Ponca City, OK according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Ponca City, OK? +

Median annual household income in Ponca City runs $55,270, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Ponca City? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Ponca City; the closest available measure is the Oklahoma state average, a cost of living index of 87.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Oklahoma vary by metro area.

Is Ponca City, OK safe? +

Ponca City has a total crime rate of 3080.0 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Ponca City, OK? +

A typical home in Ponca City is worth $127,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.