Howe, Oklahoma, 2024
Howe’s story
128 years in pictures
Census counts: 626 in 1900, 625 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2004 and 2 maps from 1959 on.
- 1898Howe is settled
HoweOK
A town of 643, settled in 1898.
Photo: Paltron · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
643
2025 Census estimate · +3.7% since 2020
Typical home
$199K
+4.5% in a year
Household income
$52K
median
Median age
29.6
years
Jobs based here
128
A commuter town
Is Howe a good place to live?
30% of residents live below the poverty line in Howe, against 18% in Oklahoma’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. Among 132 Oklahoma towns, just 5 have a higher average trip to work than Howe. Howe has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
643 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Howe: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Howe, and how to reach them.
PowerOG&E12.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterLeflore Co. RWD #1410 health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Howe’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, LeFlore County Election BoardLe Flore County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Feb 2018
ZIP code7494074940 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 Howe.
Natural hazards
High risk in Howe, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 79% of U.S. communities. One flood insurance claim has been paid in Howe since 2009.
79risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesWildfire
1
paid flood claims since 2009
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Schools
The schools Howe’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the Howe school district. Its two schools are below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howe EsLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 447 | C |
| Howe HSLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 219 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts
Work & commute
Howe has 0.7 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Howe for work: only 2% work in town. Jobs based in Howe fell to 128 in 2023, 29 fewer than in 2013. Howe’s median household income is $52,000, close to Oklahoma’s towns ($55,000) and below U.S. towns ($80,000).
2%work in town
| Howe | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 2.3% | 22% | 8% |
| Median household income | $52,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Howe2%
Heavener21%
Poteau18%
Fort Smith8%
Oklahoma City5%
13 mi
median commute distance
128
jobs based in Howe
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Four seasons and hot summers in Howe
Howe has mild winters and hot summers, with plenty of rain. The July high in Howe is 93°F.
93°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter31–54°
Spring49–73°
Summer68–91°
Fall50–75°
Nov 2
typical first frost
Apr 6
typical last frost
+0.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
93°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Safety
Crime reported in Howe
2 crimes were reported in Howe in 2025: 2 property and 0 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Howe is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
0
violent crimes reported in 2025
2
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Health
How healthy Howe is
Howe beats the Oklahoma average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 15. 24% of adults smoke cigarettes in Howe. Among 132 Oklahoma towns, just 7 have a higher share of adults who report frequent mental distress than Howe.
| Howe | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 24% | 18% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 34% | 25% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 19% | 17% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 23% | 19% |
32 measures vs. Oklahoma
0 better17 too close to call15 worse
| What stands out | Howe | OK |
|---|---|---|
| More smokers | 23.8% | 16.3% |
| More adults with COPD | 11.2% | 8% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 25.9% | 18.5% |
Eastern Oklahoma Medical Center
6.8 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Housing
A typical Howe home is worth about $199K
The typical Howe home is worth about $199,000, up 4.5% in a year, 10% below the Oklahoma typical home. Howe’s median rent is $754 a month.
$199KZillow home value
| Howe | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $754 a month | $873 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 68% | 62% | 73% |
Typical home value
Howe$199K
Oklahoma$221K
+4.5%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Howe
19pages on Howe
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
1 within 15 miles of the center of Howe
About 3 of every 100 Howe residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Oklahoma.
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave Howe for work
Where Howe’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
128jobs based in Howe
2%of working residents work in town
13 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Howe
Town in Oklahoma, United States
Howe is a town in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, Howe had a population of 625. The town was once noted for producing coal and coke, but today is chiefly supported by agriculture.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 489 ft
- ZIP code
- 74940
Questions about Howe
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Howe, OK a good place to live?
Howe has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.