Love's in, 2014
Choctaw’s story
136 years in pictures
Census counts: 230 in 1900, 12,182 in 2020. The archive holds 5 old photos and papers going back to 2014 and 3 maps from 1956 on.
- 1890Choctaw is settled
ChoctawOK
A town of 12,549, settled in 1890. Public schools that outperform most of Oklahoma.
5 bordering townsMap →
Photo: kennethaw88 · CC BY 4.0
Population
12,549
2025 Census estimate · +2.7% since 2020
Typical home
$305K
+1.6% in a year
Household income
$101K
median
Median age
38.9
years
Jobs based here
2,651
A commuter town
TownGrade
A−
#5 of 131 in OK
Is Choctaw a good place to live?
Choctaw is a solid, middle-of-the-road choice. It grades A− overall, 5th of 131 graded towns in Oklahoma, with no subject far below average. Its best mark is incomes: the median household earns $101K. It also does better than most on schools: its public schools beat 80% of Oklahoma towns on state tests and graduation. A typical home there costs about $305K, 4.2 years of the Oklahoma City metro’s $72K median household income. Only 14 of Oklahoma’s 229 towns score higher on health. The biggest place to walk is Choctaw Creek Park, 160 acres with 1.4 miles of trail. Only 4 of the 131 Oklahoma towns we compare have a higher share of households owning their home than Choctaw.
What makes Choctaw stand out
Where Choctaw beats most towns.
A commuter town
93% of working residents leave Choctaw for work
Where Choctaw’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
2,651jobs based in Choctaw
7%of working residents work in town
16 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Choctaw grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Oklahoma), ordered by how far Choctaw is from typical.
Jobs & incomeA−Open →SchoolsA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.7 of 20; 5.3% of households have no car; 1.5% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC+Open →HealthSSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Midwest 7.1 miles awayBOpen →SafetyBOpen →Cost of livingB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors8 miles of trailsB−Open →History4 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life2.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 27 attractions →Oklahoma City National Memorial and 22 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Choctaw. Close and well known come first.
14 mi MuseumOklahoma City National Memorial419K visitors a year
22 mi Stadium & arenaGaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium12 mi Theme parkFrontier City
13 mi MuseumNational Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
13 mi MuseumMuseum of Osteology12 mi Zoo & aquariumOklahoma City Zoo and Botanical GardenSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Oklahoma City National Memorial: User:Dual Freq, CC BY 2.5 · Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium: Toniklemm, CC BY-SA 4.0 · National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum: Billy Hathorn, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Museum of Osteology: SkeletonsRCool, CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Choctaw: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Choctaw, and how to reach them.
PowerOG&E12.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterChoctaw Ua water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet8 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Choctaw’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Oklahoma you can register online until 25 days before Election Day, in person until 25 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 25 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereSecretary, Oklahoma County Election BoardOklahoma County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Dec 2025
ZIP code7302073020 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Choctaw.
Choctaw fares better on crime within Oklahoma than nationally, looks healthier within Oklahoma than nationally and has household incomes well above the Oklahoma norm.
SchoolsA−
Choctaw earns an A− for schools
Its public schools are run by the Choctaw-Nicoma Park school district. Three of its 5 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Choctaw HS, with 1,867 students.
80%of OK districts it outscoresA−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Griffith Meridian ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 989 | – |
| Choctaw HSLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,867 | A− |
| L. W. Westfall EsTop results in townGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 457 | A+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within OK on state tests and graduation
OutdoorsB−
Choctaw has set aside 5% of its land for conservation
7.5 miles of trail in 6 parks and preserves.
#44for trails in OK
| Choctaw | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 5% | 7% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.2 | 0.4 |
5%
conserved · 876 of 17,370 acres
7.5 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Choctaw Creek Park | 1.4 mi | 160 |
| 2. Bouse Park | 0.3 mi | 67 |
| 3. Ten Acre Lake Park | 0.3 mi | 37 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HousingCost of living grade B−
Choctaw earns a B− for cost of living
The typical Choctaw home is worth about $305,000, up 1.6% in a year, 38% above the Oklahoma typical home. At $1,208 a month, Choctaw’s median rent is against $870 a month in Oklahoma’s towns and $1,185 a month across U.S. towns.
$305KZillow home value
Typical home value
Choctaw$305K
Oklahoma$221K
Market temperature
18
days on market
99%
sale-to-list price
+1.6%
value change, 1 year
23
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
More than half of Choctaw’s working residents commute to Oklahoma City
Jobs based here grew from 1,806 in 2013 to 2,651.
Most working residents leave Choctaw for work: only 7% work in town. 6.3% of Choctaw residents live below the poverty line, below both the Oklahoma town median (18%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Jobs based in Choctaw grew to 2,651 in 2023, 845 more than in 2013.
7%work in town
| Choctaw | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 6.3% | 18% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $101,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 7.5% | 22% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 26 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In Choctaw7%
Oklahoma City51%
Midwest City8%
Norman4%
Tulsa4%
16 mi
median commute distance
2,651
jobs based in Choctaw
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 30% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
In Choctaw, expect mild winters and hot summers
Choctaw has chilly winters and hot summers. Choctaw’s July high is 94°F.
4″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter30–52°
Spring49–72°
Summer69–91°
Fall50–74°
Nov 5
typical first frost
Apr 2
typical last frost
+0.5°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Fewer young adults than Oklahoma overall
The median household earns $100,574, against $65,039 across Oklahoma, one input to its A− for jobs and income.
Adults 18 to 34 are 16% of residents (23% statewide); children under 18 are 28% of residents (24% statewide). Choctaw has grown 2.7% since 2020, to 12,549 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate. 29% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 28% across Oklahoma.
38.9median age · OK 37
| Choctaw | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 28% | 25% | 22% |
| Median age | 38.9 years | 36.2 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 29% | 20% | 29% |
| Aged 65 or older | 17% | 16% | 18% |
ChoctawOklahomaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma8%
High school31%
Some college23%
Associate’s10%
Bachelor’s17%
Graduate11%
Women and men · all residents
51% women, 49% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.5 points. Across Oklahoma, 50.2% of residents are women.
| Choctaw | OK | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 13.7% | 12.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 14.7% | 11.2% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 5.1% | 9.8% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 11.2% | 13.5% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.4% | 13.2% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 12.1% | 11.4% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.9% | 11.9% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 9.5% | 9.7% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 7.6% | 6.6% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.9% | 10.6% | 10.4% |
| High school | 31.3% | 30.6% | 26% |
| Some college | 22.5% | 22.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.8% | 8.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 17.3% | 18.5% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.3% | 9.9% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HealthB
On CDC estimates, Choctaw is healthier than 62% of U.S. towns
Within Oklahoma it is healthier than 92% of the 131 graded towns: much of Oklahoma scores lower on these measures. Its B for health tops all 5 graded neighbors; Oklahoma City (C+) comes closest.
Choctaw beats the Oklahoma average on 12 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 30% of Choctaw adults feel lonely. Among 131 Oklahoma towns, just 7 have a lower share of adults who get no exercise outside work than Choctaw.
62%healthier than U.S. townsBHealth Grade
| Choctaw | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 34% | 33% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 34% | 38% | 36% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 23% | 19% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 21% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Oklahoma
12 better18 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Choctaw | OK |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 10.6% | 16.4% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 12.2% | 18.5% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 8.9% | 7.8% |
SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital - Midwest
7.1 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
91st
percentile among OK towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SafetyB
Less crime per resident in Choctaw than in 59% of U.S. towns
At 15.1 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 85% of Oklahoma’s graded towns. Its B tops all 5 graded towns on its borders; Jones (B−) comes closest.
The property crime rate in Choctaw is 7.7 per 1,000 residents.
59%of U.S. towns report more crimeBSafety Grade
| Choctaw | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 7.7 per 1,000 residents | 14.1 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 1.3 per 1,000 residents | 2.7 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Choctaw1.3
Oklahoma4.1
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Choctaw7.7
Oklahoma18.4
U.S.15.5
59th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
85th
percentile among OK towns
16
violent crimes reported in 2025
95
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Choctaw faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 60% of U.S. communities. Since 1989, 19 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Choctaw.
60risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHeat waves
19
paid flood claims since 1989
18
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Choctaw
20pages on Choctaw
The big questions
SchoolsA−Beat 80% of OK districts · 5 schoolsSafetyB1.3 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthBBetter than OK on 12 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingB−$305K typical home · up 1.6% in a yearWork & commuteA−$101K median household income · 2,651 jobs hereNatural hazardsC+FEMA risk higher than 60% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Choctaw
Rose State CollegeCommunity college · Public · Midwest City8.6 mi$5,030 in-state tuitionUniversity of Oklahoma-Health Sciences CenterUniversity or college · Public · Oklahoma City12.7 miOklahoma Christian UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Edmond14.2 mi$27,180 tuition
About 4 of every 100 Choctaw residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Oklahoma.
Famous people from Choctaw
4 notable people were born in Choctaw.
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About Choctaw
City in Oklahoma, United States
Choctaw is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, with a population of 12,182 at the 2020 census, a 9.3% increase from 2010. It is the oldest chartered town in Oklahoma Territory. The city is located approximately 10 miles (16.1 km) east of Oklahoma City and is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. Choctaw became a community in 1890, but was not given actual status as a town until 1893 when a territorial governor was appointed for Oklahoma. It officially celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1993. In 1950, Choctaw was in an agricultural area. It had a population of 355 in that year. Despite its name, the town has no cultural, historical or governmental ties to the Choctaw …
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1890
- Area
- 27 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,148 ft
- ZIP code
- 73020
- Area code
- 405
Choctaw’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with Choctaw.
At #5 in OK, it grades higher overall than all 4 graded towns on its borders; Harrah (B) comes closest.
Oklahoma CityMidwest CityJonesNicoma ParkHarrahChoctaw
How the neighbors grade
| Town | OK rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choctaw | #5 | A− | B− | B | A− | B |
| Oklahoma City | #100 | D | C+ | D | — | C+ |
| Midwest City | #72 | C− | B | C− | B | C |
| Jones | #37 | C+ | B | B− | B+ | C− |
| Nicoma Park | — | — | A | C+ | A− | D |
| Harrah | #25 | B | B | B− | A− | C |
Nicoma Park has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Compare Choctaw with a neighbor →
Questions about Choctaw
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Choctaw, OK a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Choctaw grades A− overall, better than 76% of U.S. towns and #5 of 131 in Oklahoma. It grades B for health, B for safety and A− for schools.
Is Choctaw, OK expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.
What is Choctaw, OK known for?
4 notable people were born here, including Ryan Merriman and Andrew Mitchell.