Grocery store near Vian, Oklahoma, 1939
Vian’s story
140 years in pictures
Census counts: 296 in 1900, 1,374 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1939 and 3 maps from 1967 on.
- 1886Vian is settled
VianOK
A town of 1,386, settled in 1886.
Photo: John Phelan · CC BY 3.0
Population
1,386
2025 Census estimate · +0.3% since 2020
Typical home
$198K
+5.3% in a year
Household income
$41K
median
Median age
32.5
years
Jobs based here
265
A commuter town
Is Vian a good place to live?
The best of Vian’s subject grades are an A for cost of living and the outdoors and an A− for walkability; the weakest is a D− for health. Only 12 of Oklahoma’s 227 towns score higher on walkability. The median household income is $41K, and 24% of residents live below the poverty line. On health, just 16 of Oklahoma’s 229 towns do worse. 34% of the land in Vian is conserved, above both Oklahoma’s towns (6.9%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). Only 3 of Oklahoma’s 229 towns score higher on the outdoors. Vian has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade.
What makes Vian stand out
Where Vian beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Small town
1,386 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
How Vian grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Oklahoma), ordered by how far Vian is from typical.
HealthSequoyah County-City of Sallisaw Hospital Authorit 10.4 miles awayD−Open →Jobs & incomeDOpen →SafetyDOpen →Cost of livingAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 8.6 of 20; 14.6% of households have no car; 4.6% of workers walk, bike or ride transitA−Open →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC−Open →SchoolsC−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsAOpen →History5 notable people born hereC−Open →Civic life1.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 32.5; 10% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Vian: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Vian, and how to reach them.
PowerOG&E12.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterVian water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers59% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Vian’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, Sequoyah County Election BoardSequoyah County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Feb 2018
ZIP code7496274962 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 Vian.
HealthD−
Residents of Vian are less healthy than 98% of U.S. towns
Vian beats the Oklahoma average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 20. 19% of adults report frequent physical distress in Vian, above both the Oklahoma town median (16%) and the median of U.S. towns (14%). 23% of Vian adults smoke cigarettes.
2%healthier than U.S. townsD−Health Grade
| Vian | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 16% | 14% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 18% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 47% | 41% | 35% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 34% | 25% |
32 measures vs. Oklahoma
0 better12 too close to call20 worse
| What stands out | Vian | OK |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 31.5% | 16.4% |
| More adults who have had a stroke | 5.6% | 3.7% |
| More adults with COPD | 12% | 8% |
Sequoyah County-City of Sallisaw Hospital Authorit
10.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsC−
Vian’s public schools trail 81% of Oklahoma districts
Its public schools are run by the Vian school district. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
19%of OK districts it outscoresC−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vian EsLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 388 | C+ |
| Vian HSLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 230 | C+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within OK on state tests and graduation
SafetyD
Vian sees more crime per resident than 92% of U.S. towns
The violent crime rate in Vian is 5.8 per 1,000 residents.
8%of U.S. towns report more crimeDSafety Grade
| Vian | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 5.8 per 1,000 residents | 2.7 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 16.6 per 1,000 residents | 14 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Vian5.8
Oklahoma4.1
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Vian16.6
Oklahoma18.4
U.S.15.5
8th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
8
violent crimes reported in 2025
23
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
34.3%conserved
34.3%
conserved · 304 of 885 acres
0.2 mi
of trails · 0.1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Vian Anna Farmer Gazebo Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
Vian has 0.7 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave Vian for work: only 5% work in town. Vian’s average trip to work is 29 minutes. Jobs based in Vian fell to 265 in 2023, 126 fewer than in 2013.
5%work in town
| Vian | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 29 minutes | 22 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 5.1% | 22% | 8% |
| Median household income | $41,000 | $55,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Vian5%
Sallisaw12%
Tulsa9%
Muskogee8%
Oklahoma City7%
32 mi
median commute distance
265
jobs based in Vian
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 82% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Vian faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 75% of U.S. communities.
75risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHeat waves
6
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in Vian
Vian has mild winters and hot summers, with plenty of rain. July afternoons reach 93°, January nights drop to 28° and about 2 inches of snow falls in a winter.
2″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter31–52°
Spring49–72°
Summer69–91°
Fall51–74°
Nov 7
typical first frost
Mar 30
typical last frost
+0.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade A
Homes in Vian are worth about $198K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Vian home is worth about $198,000, up 5.3% in a year, 10% below the Oklahoma typical home. 47% of households own their home in Vian.
$198KZillow home value
| Vian | Oklahoma towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 47% | 62% | 73% |
| Median rent | $758 a month | $873 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Vian$198K
Oklahoma$221K
+5.3%
value change, 1 year
1
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Vian
20pages on Vian
The big questions
SchoolsC−Behind 81% of OK districts · 3 schoolsSafetyD5.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthD−Better than OK on 0 of 32 CDC measuresCost of livingA$198K typical home · up 5.3% in a yearWork & commuteD$41K median household income · 265 jobs hereNatural hazardsC−FEMA risk higher than 75% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Vian; the nearest are
Connors State CollegeCommunity college · Public · Warner19.7 mi$3,792 in-state tuitionNortheastern State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Tahlequah28.7 mi$7,810 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Vian residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Oklahoma.
A commuter town
95% of working residents leave Vian for work
Where Vian’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
265jobs based in Vian
5%of working residents work in town
32 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Famous people from Vian
5 notable people were born in Vian.
About Vian
Town in Oklahoma, United States
Vian (Cherokee: ᏓᏄᎪᎢ, romanized: da-hnu-go-i, lit. 'gar-place') is a town in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, United States, adjacent to Interstate 40 at the intersection of U.S. Route 64 and Oklahoma State Highway 82. The population was 1,374 at the 2020 census, a 6.3 percent decline from the figure of 1,466 recorded in 2010. It is part of the Fort Smith Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 1.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 541 ft
- ZIP code
- 74962
Questions about Vian
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Vian, OK expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A.
What is Vian, OK known for?
5 notable people were born here, including Frederick F. Henry and Bobby Ussery.