The Town FilesTonkawa, Oklahoma
City in Kay County · population 3,015 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $84,300
- Household income
- $58,767
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 8 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 51
- Median age
- 33.6
Tonkawa is a city of 3,015 people in Kay County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $84,300, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks hipper than 97% of Oklahoma towns, better for cycling than 95% of Oklahoma towns, better for young professionals than 87% of Oklahoma towns.
How Tonkawa 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 Tonkawa is worth $84,300, below the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 1.4 times the median household income of $58,767, which is more affordable than 95% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $800 a month. 73.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tonkawa | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $84,300 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | $800 | $830 |
| Median household income | $58,767 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.4× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 73.8% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1954 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Tonkawa
| People | Tonkawa | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.6 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.8% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.3% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.9% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.6% | — |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.9% | 86.0% |
Weather in Tonkawa
July highs average 93.8°F and January lows 22.2°F. About 38.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 7.9 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 72 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 96 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
51 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tonkawa since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F5, struck on May 25, 1955 about 3.9 miles from the town center and killed 20. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 20 deaths and 287 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 141 times; the largest was 4.75 inches on May 10, 2010.
Severe weather in Kay County since 1996
Kay County has been included in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| December 21, 2020 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4575: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4530: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Kay County
Kay County had 17,181 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,720 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Tonkawa itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Tonkawa
3 public schools with 799 students, about 14.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| TONKAWA ES | PK-5 | 414 | 14.8 |
| TONKAWA HS | 9-12 | 208 | 13.0 |
| TONKAWA MS | 6-8 | 177 | 17.7 |
Towns near Tonkawa
- Blackwell, OK9.1 mi · 6,085 people · home $85,600
- Ponca City, OK14.2 mi · 24,424 people · home $135,800
- Perry, OK27.0 mi · 4,484 people · home $109,100
Tonkawa questions
Is Tonkawa, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tonkawa scores better for retirees than 43% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 22%. 18.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.6).
How much does a house cost in Tonkawa?
The median owner-occupied home in Tonkawa is valued at $84,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,767, so homes cost about 1.4 times income. Median rent is $800 a month.
What is the weather like in Tonkawa?
July highs average 93.8°F and January lows 22.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 38.8 inches of precipitation a year and 7.9 inches of snow.
Does Tonkawa get tornadoes?
51 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tonkawa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F5 on May 25, 1955. 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)