The Town FilesPurcell, Oklahoma
City in McClain County · population 6,651 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $171,600
- Household income
- $63,457
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 68
- Median age
- 35.0
Purcell is a city of 6,651 people in McClain County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $171,600, above the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 88% of Oklahoma towns, more vibrant than 88% of Oklahoma towns, more walkable than 82% of Oklahoma towns.
How Purcell 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 Purcell is worth $171,600, above the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $63,457, which is more affordable than 36% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $868 a month. 57.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Purcell | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $171,600 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | $868 | $830 |
| Median household income | $63,457 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 57.0% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1983 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Purcell
| People | Purcell | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.0 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.5% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 27.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.2% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.0% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 9.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.2% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 19.2 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.8% | 86.0% |
Weather in Purcell
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 27.7°F. About 37.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.5 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 69 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 76 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
68 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Purcell since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 19 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on September 14, 1957 about 8.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 8, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 154 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on May 27, 2017.
Severe weather in McClain County since 1996
McClain County has been included in 44 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 22, 2026 | Fire | FM-5627: Dibble Creek Fire |
| April 30, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4776: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| April 24, 2023 | Tornado | DR-4706: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| February 24, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4587: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 17, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3555: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in McClain County
McClain County had 12,439 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,650 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Purcell itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Purcell
4 public schools with 1,466 students, about 15.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| PURCELL HS | 9-12 | 423 | 17.6 |
| PURCELL ES | PK-2 | 385 | 14.8 |
| PURCELL INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL | 3-5 | 338 | 14.7 |
| PURCELL JHS | 6-8 | 320 | 14.5 |
Towns near Purcell
- Slaughterville, OK7.1 mi · 4,163 people · home $219,400
- Noble, OK7.7 mi · 6,985 people · home $190,200
- Goldsby, OK9.4 mi · 2,694 people · home $399,000
- Norman, OK15.1 mi · 128,026 people · home $250,100
- Lindsay, OK18.4 mi · 2,864 people · home $112,200
- Blanchard, OK18.7 mi · 8,879 people · home $295,000
- Newcastle, OK19.6 mi · 10,984 people · home $271,800
- Moore, OK21.8 mi · 62,793 people · home $204,500
Purcell questions
Is Purcell, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Purcell scores better for retirees than 14% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 14%. 16.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.0).
How much does a house cost in Purcell?
The median owner-occupied home in Purcell is valued at $171,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,457, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $868 a month.
What is the weather like in Purcell?
July highs average 92.5°F and January lows 27.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 37.6 inches of precipitation a year and 4.5 inches of snow.
Does Purcell get tornadoes?
68 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Purcell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on September 14, 1957. 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)