Housing decision brief
Stephens County, OK Housing Market
Stephens County screens as a below-state purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a higher tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
38th lowest home value out of 77 Oklahoma counties with data | 53rd lowest rent out of 77
Median home value
$135,100
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$865/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$740/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
2.2x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
26.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$125/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$135,100 median home value is 1% below Oklahoma county median
Rent burden below pressure line
26.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $125/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Tax rate needs attention
0.71% effective property-tax rate is 13% above Oklahoma county median
Water quality cross-check
Water quality grade is F. Review water data before treating housing cost as the full story.
Health context
Health score is 27.8 out of 100, so affordability should be weighed against local health indicators.
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Buyers comparing homes to local incomes
- Households weighing ownership against renting
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Buyers who will not investigate local water systems before moving
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Stephens County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $135,100 | $135,800 | $281,900 | Near state median1% below Oklahoma county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $865 | $811 | $1,163 | 7% pressure7% above Oklahoma county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $740 | $680 | $1,672 | 9% pressure9% above Oklahoma county median |
Median household income | $60,236 | $57,551 | $74,755 | 5% favorable5% above Oklahoma county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.71% | 0.63% | 1.02% | 13% pressure13% above Oklahoma county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 26.00% | 26.00% | N/A | Near state median26.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$25,636
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$28,522
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Stephens County is affordable for renters, with a median gross rent of $865/month representing approximately 17.2% of median household income. The rent burden (GRAPI) stands at 26.0%.
Rent vs own
At $865/month rent versus $740/month in owner costs, owning is roughly $125/month cheaper , a 14% difference.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $34,600/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $31,714/year. With a median household income of $60,236, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 26.0% of renter households in Stephens County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Compared to Okmulgee County where rent averages $811/month, Stephens County is approximately 7% more expensive.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County, OK | $145,000 | $865/mo | Same-state comparison near $145,000 home value and $865/mo rent. |
| Blaine County, OK | $126,200 | $842/mo | Same-state comparison near $126,200 home value and $842/mo rent. |
| Garvin County, OK | $132,600 | $828/mo | Same-state comparison near $132,600 home value and $828/mo rent. |
| Pawnee County, OK | $125,700 | $872/mo | Same-state comparison near $125,700 home value and $872/mo rent. |
| Marshall County, OK | $139,700 | $819/mo | Same-state comparison near $139,700 home value and $819/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Stephens County
Is Stephens County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Stephens County?
How much income do you need for housing in Stephens County?
What should I double-check before moving to Stephens County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.