Ralston Opera House · National Register of Historic Places
Ralston’s story
132 years in pictures
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1894Ralston is settled
RalstonOK
A town of 277, settled in 1894.
Ralston Opera House · Photo: TulGuy · CC BY 4.0
Population
277
2025 Census estimate · +3.4% since 2020
Typical home
$105K
−4.4% in a year
Household income
$50K
median
Median age
45.3
years
Jobs based here
14
A commuter town
Is Ralston a good place to live?
Ralston Opera House is on the National Register of Historic Places. Ralston has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
277 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 Ralston: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Ralston, and how to reach them.
PowerIndian Electric Coop13.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterRalston water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
InternetProviders and speedsData pending · D4
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Ralston’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, Pawnee County Election BoardPawnee County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2021
ZIP code7465074650 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 Ralston.
Housing
The typical home in Ralston: about $105K
Values fell 4.4% in the year to September 2026. In Ralston, just over four in five households live in a home they own, where Oklahoma’s towns sit at 62% and U.S. towns at 73%.
$105KZillow home value
Typical home value
Ralston$105K
Oklahoma$221K
−4.4%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazards
Natural hazards: very high risk in Ralston, mostly drought
Federal disaster aid has reached households in Ralston after 3 declared disasters, most recently in 2019. On expected storm and flood damage, Ralston sits above 86% of U.S. communities. Expected losses in Ralston break down as 25% from drought and 24% from inland flooding.
86risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
DroughtInland floodingCold waves
3
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Work & commute
Ralston has 0.1 jobs per working resident, so most workers leave town for work
Among 132 Oklahoma towns, just 8 have a higher typical journey to work than Ralston. Jobs based locally fell to 14 in 2023, 33 fewer than in 2013. In Ralston, 20% of residents live below the poverty line, against 18% in Oklahoma’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns. The top destinations are Pawnee (13%), Stillwater (13%) and Oklahoma City (12%).
0%work in town
| Ralston | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 20% | 18% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Ralston0%
Pawnee13%
Stillwater13%
Oklahoma City12%
Tulsa8%
42 mi
median commute distance
14
jobs based in Ralston
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Four seasons and hot summers: that is Ralston’s year
In July, afternoons reach 93°; in January, nights fall to 24°, and about 7 inches of snow falls in a winter.
7″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter27–51°
Spring47–71°
Summer68–91°
Fall48–73°
Oct 24
typical first frost
Apr 11
typical last frost
+0.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Ralston is
Among adults in Ralston, 80% had a checkup this year. The town does better than the Oklahoma average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and worse on 6. Two figures for adults here: 13% binge drink, 19% smoke cigarettes.
| Ralston | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 40% | 35% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 14% | 16% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 18% | 14% |
| Diabetes (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 14% | 12% |
32 measures vs. Oklahoma
2 better24 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Ralston | OK |
|---|---|---|
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 79.4% | 76.3% |
| More adults getting cholesterol checked | 87% | 84.3% |
| More adults with heart disease | 9.5% | 7.3% |
Rural Wellness Fairfax Hospital
4.5 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Ralston
16pages on Ralston
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Ralston; the nearest are
Oklahoma State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Stillwater32.1 mi$10,234 in-state tuitionNorthern Oklahoma CollegeCommunity college · Public · Tonkawa33.3 mi$5,083 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Ralston residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Oklahoma.
A commuter town
100% of working residents leave Ralston for work
Where Ralston’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
14jobs based in Ralston
0%of working residents work in town
42 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Ralston
Town in Oklahoma, United States
Ralston (Pawnee: Iriíraatuhukaataku, reetuhruukaataku ) is a town in Pawnee County, Oklahoma, United States. The town is southeast of Ponca City on State Highway 18 near the west bank of the Arkansas River. The population was 266 as of the 2020 Census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 823 ft
- ZIP code
- 74650
Questions about Ralston
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Ralston, OK a good place to live?
Ralston has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.