The Town FilesStilwell, Oklahoma
City in Adair County · population 3,700 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $101,600
- Household income
- $37,292
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 93°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 28
- Median age
- 34.2
Stilwell is a city of 3,700 people in Adair County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $101,600, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks more vibrant than 85% of Oklahoma towns, better for cycling than 82% of Oklahoma towns.
How Stilwell 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 Stilwell is worth $101,600, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $37,292, which is more affordable than 36% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $632 a month. 46.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Stilwell | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $101,600 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | $632 | $830 |
| Median household income | $37,292 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 46.2% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Stilwell
| People | Stilwell | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.2 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.5% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.4% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 34.2% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 6.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.9% | — |
| Work from home | 0.1% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 21.6 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 69.6% | 86.0% |
Weather in Stilwell
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 27.5°F. About 51.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 5.0 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 52 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 74 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stilwell since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 4, 1999 about 9.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 29, 2016.
Severe weather in Adair County since 1996
Adair County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 18, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4862: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 29, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4657: Severe Storms, 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 Adair County
Adair County had 4,394 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $42,371 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Stilwell itself the ACS puts it at 5.7%.
Public schools in Stilwell
9 public schools with 2,824 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| STILWELL HS | 9-12 | 651 | 16.7 |
| MARYETTA PUBLIC SCHOOL | PK-8 | 627 | 14.6 |
| STILWELL ES | PK-4 | 453 | 13.7 |
| STILWELL MS | 5-8 | 277 | 11.1 |
| ZION PUBLIC SCHOOL | PK-8 | 266 | 11.1 |
| ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLIC SCHOOL | PK-8 | 203 | 15.6 |
| DAHLONEGAH PUBLIC SCHOOL | PK-8 | 186 | 12.4 |
| PEAVINE PUBLIC SCHOOL | PK-8 | 94 | 11.8 |
| BELFONTE BELL ES (ADAIR CNTY) | PK-8 | 67 | 13.4 |
Towns near Stilwell
- Park Hill, OK19.1 mi · 3,193 people · home $174,400
- Tahlequah, OK20.5 mi · 16,209 people · home $185,400
- Prairie Grove, AR21.8 mi · 7,045 people · home $256,000
- Farmington, AR26.1 mi · 7,584 people · home $304,800
- Siloam Springs, AR26.2 mi · 17,287 people · home $221,700
- Sallisaw, OK26.4 mi · 8,510 people · home $134,100
- Muldrow, OK28.5 mi · 3,272 people · home $114,300
- Roland, OK28.6 mi · 3,316 people · home $139,800
Stilwell questions
Is Stilwell, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Stilwell scores better for retirees than 4% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 19%. 12.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.2).
How much does a house cost in Stilwell?
The median owner-occupied home in Stilwell is valued at $101,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,292, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $632 a month.
What is the weather like in Stilwell?
July highs average 93.0°F and January lows 27.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 51.0 inches of precipitation a year and 5.0 inches of snow.
Does Stilwell get tornadoes?
28 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Stilwell since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 4, 1999. 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)