The Town FilesNowata, Oklahoma
City in Nowata County · population 3,517 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $89,900
- Household income
- $47,776
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 29
- Median age
- 37.8
Nowata is a city of 3,517 people in Nowata County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $89,900, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks hipper than 89% of Oklahoma towns, more walkable than 81% of Oklahoma towns, better for first-time buyers than 73% of Oklahoma towns.
How Nowata 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 Nowata is worth $89,900, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $47,776, which is more affordable than 80% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $752 a month. 61.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Nowata | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $89,900 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | $752 | $830 |
| Median household income | $47,776 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 61.0% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1967 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Nowata
| People | Nowata | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.2% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.5% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 26.5 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.9% | 86.0% |
Weather in Nowata
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 21.5°F. About 39.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.9 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 71 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 109 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nowata since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 9, 1959 about 4.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on November 4, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 5, 2014.
Severe weather in Nowata County since 1996
Nowata County has been included in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 7, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4950: Severe Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| April 30, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4776: 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 |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4530: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Nowata County
Nowata County had 1,696 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,323 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Nowata itself the ACS puts it at 7.8%.
Public schools in Nowata
3 public schools with 745 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOWATA ES | PK-5 | 383 | 18.2 |
| NOWATA HS | 9-12 | 197 | 13.1 |
| NOWATA MS | 6-8 | 165 | 16.5 |
Towns near Nowata
- Bartlesville, OK17.4 mi · 37,290 people · home $167,200
- Dewey, OK17.6 mi · 3,372 people · home $119,000
- Coffeyville, KS23.1 mi · 8,826 people · home $60,800
- Collinsville, OK26.0 mi · 7,881 people · home $225,400
- Claremore, OK26.6 mi · 19,580 people · home $188,700
- Skiatook, OK29.8 mi · 8,450 people · home $182,600
Nowata questions
Is Nowata, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Nowata scores better for retirees than 69% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 35%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.8).
How much does a house cost in Nowata?
The median owner-occupied home in Nowata is valued at $89,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,776, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $752 a month.
What is the weather like in Nowata?
July highs average 92.7°F and January lows 21.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.7 inches of precipitation a year and 8.9 inches of snow.
Does Nowata get tornadoes?
29 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Nowata since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 9, 1959. 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)