County · Oklahoma
Cotton County, Oklahoma
Cotton County, Oklahoma. Cotton County had 5,432 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 1.7% since 2020, while Oklahoma grew 4.1%. It holds 4 places (4 cities, villages and boroughs) and 2 census tracts. GEOID 40033.
Cotton County is one of the 2 counties of the Lawton, OK metropolitan statistical area (the Census Bureau's July 2023 delineation).
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,432
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,527 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,485
Median household income
$58,425
±$4,275 (90% margin)
Oklahoma: $65,039
Median home value
$113,900
±$9,005 (90% margin)
Oklahoma: $199,800
Median gross rent
$772
±$78 (90% margin)
Oklahoma: $1,014
How many people live in Cotton County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 5,527 residents in Cotton County. The Census Bureau estimates 5,432 for July 1, 2025, down 1.7% since 2020, while Oklahoma grew 4.1%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 5,485 over 633 square miles of land.
| Measure | Cotton County | Oklahoma | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,485 | 4,028,634 | −373 |
| Households | 2,040±86 | 1,562,389 | −155 |
| Average household size | 2.65±0.11 | 2.50 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,697±27 | 1,775,127 | −301 |
Cotton County's population since 2000
From 6,614 in 2000 to 5,432 in 2025: down 17.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. 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); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Cotton County?
Cotton County holds 4 places: 4 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places). The largest is Walters with 2,355 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Cotton County?
The median resident of Cotton County is 41.9 years old; 22.8% are under 18 and 20.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 74.1%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 10.5%. 1.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Cotton County | Oklahoma | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9±1.1 | 37.0 | −1.6 |
| Under 18 years | 22.8%±0.4 pts | 24.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.0%±0.8 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.7% | 12.7% | −0.3 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 74.1%±0.7 pts | 62.1% | −1.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.7%±0.9 pts | 6.8% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 2.4% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 5.6%±1.3 pts | 6.6% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.5 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 10.5%±1.7 pts | 8.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3%±0.3 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.2%±0.7 pts | 6.4% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.8%±1.5 pts | 11.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.0%±2.2 pts | 7.9% | – |
| With a disability | 25.0%±3.0 pts | 17.2% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.7%±2.1 pts | 12.9% | −6.0 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 88.3%±2.5 pts | 89.4% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 23.1%±3.7 pts | 28.3% | +9.4 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.4%±2.7 pts | 9.9% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.4%±0.7 pts | 2.7% | – |
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 Cotton County earn?
Half of Cotton County's 2,040 households earn less than $58,425 a year (±$4,275), against $65,039 in Oklahoma. In 2015-2019 it was $62,624 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 20.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Cotton County | Oklahoma | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $58,425±$4,275 | $65,039 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $87,447±$15,432 | $88,936 | – |
| Per capita income | $35,391±$6,012 | $35,624 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 20.5%±4.1 pts | 15.3% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 32.3%±9.8 pts | 20.1% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 17.8%±3.4 pts | 14.1% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.0%±2.8 pts | 88.9% | – |
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 Cotton County?
Owners occupy 80.3% of Cotton County's occupied homes and renters 19.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $113,900 by its owner (±$9,005). The median renter pays $772 a month including utilities, and 19.1% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Cotton County | Oklahoma | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $113,900±$9,005 | $199,800 | +$19,506 |
| Median gross rent | $772±$78 | $1,014 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 19.1%±8.0 pts | 37.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,206±$151 | $1,539 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 80.3%±4.0 pts | 65.8% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,697±27 | 1,775,127 | −301 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.4%±1.3 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.4%±1.3 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 83.3%±3.1 pts | 72.7% | – |
| Mobile homes | 12.2%±2.9 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.1%±1.0 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 15.7%±3.1 pts | 6.9% | – |
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 Cotton County building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units across Cotton County in 2025 (1 single-family), 0.2 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Cotton County get to work?
79.0% of Cotton County's workers drive alone and 3.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 27.4 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.5%.
| Measure | Cotton County | Oklahoma | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.1%±3.9 pts | 61.2% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5%±1.4 pts | 5.0% | −3.4 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 79.0%±4.2 pts | 77.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.9%±4.0 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±1.1 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Walked | 0.6%±0.5 pts | 1.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 3.5%±1.7 pts | 9.4% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 27.4 min±2.8 | 22.4 min | +4.0 min |
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 are Cotton County's census tracts?
Cotton County is divided into 2 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $55,833 (Tract 8712) to $63,167 (Tract 8711).
| Tract 871140033871100 | 3,285±195 | $63,167 |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 871240033871200 | 2,200±195 | $55,833 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Cotton County compare with Oklahoma's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 67th of 77 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 60th of 77 |
| Residents per square mile | 61st of 77 |
| Median household income | 43rd of 77 |
| Median home value | 65th of 77 |
| Median gross rent | 57th of 77 |
| Poverty rate | 19th of 77 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23rd of 77 |
| Median age | 15th of 77 |
Source: PlainCities ranks 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 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 Cotton County 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' school search.