The Town FilesAltus, Oklahoma
City in Jackson County · population 18,729 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $152,200
- Household income
- $55,295
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 97°
- Snow a year
- 4 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 44
- Median age
- 33.7
Altus is a city of 18,729 people in Jackson County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $152,200, above the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks more of a college town than 92% of Oklahoma towns, better for young professionals than 90% of Oklahoma towns, more vibrant than 90% of Oklahoma towns.
How Altus ranks
Percentile among Oklahoma towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oklahoma towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Altus is worth $152,200, above the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $55,295, which is more affordable than 30% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $854 a month. 53.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Altus | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,200 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | $854 | $830 |
| Median household income | $55,295 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 53.7% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Altus
| People | Altus | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.7 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.8% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.9% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.4% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 14.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.4% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 11.1 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.8% | 86.0% |
Weather in Altus
July highs average 97.2°F and January lows 25.1°F. About 27.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.1 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 100 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 86 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Altus since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 15 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 11, 1982 about 1.3 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 75 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 23, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 248 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 25, 1999.
Severe weather in Jackson County since 1996
Jackson County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| June 14, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4791: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 24, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4587: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 17, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3555: Severe Winter Storm |
| December 21, 2020 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4575: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4530: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Jackson County
Jackson County had 9,599 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,785 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Altus itself the ACS puts it at 6.5%.
Public schools in Altus
10 public schools with 4,039 students, about 17.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALTUS HS | 9-12 | 974 | 20.3 |
| ALTUS JHS | 7-8 | 507 | 17.5 |
| ALTUS INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | 5-6 | 495 | 17.1 |
| ALTUS PRIMARY SCHOOL | 1-2 | 444 | 17.1 |
| ALTUS EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER | PK-K | 421 | 17.5 |
| ALTUS ES | 3-4 | 399 | 16.6 |
| RIVERS ES | PK-4 | 349 | 15.9 |
| NAVAJO ES | PK-6 | 280 | 14.0 |
| NAVAJO HS | 9-12 | 95 | 11.9 |
| NAVAJO JHS | 7-8 | 75 | 15.0 |
Towns near Altus
- Mangum, OK18.9 mi · 2,762 people · home $96,500
- Frederick, OK28.0 mi · 3,468 people · home $89,300
- Hobart, OK28.3 mi · 3,413 people · home $71,100
Altus questions
Is Altus, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Altus scores better for retirees than 39% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 7%. 13.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.7).
How much does a house cost in Altus?
The median owner-occupied home in Altus is valued at $152,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,295, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $854 a month.
What is the weather like in Altus?
July highs average 97.2°F and January lows 25.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 27.6 inches of precipitation a year and 4.1 inches of snow.
Does Altus get tornadoes?
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Altus since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 11, 1982. The typical Oklahoma town has had 33.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)