At a Glance
Median Income
$49,789
$23,433 per capita
Home Value
$142,400
Zillow: $177,963
Median Rent
$818/mo
26.2% of income on rent
Violent Crime
413/100K
3,761/100K property
Bachelor's Degree+
15.9%
81.3% high school+
Unemployment
3.2%
18.2% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
41.2%
23.0% smoking rate
Avg Temperature
63°F
318 sunny days/yr
How Poteau Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Poteau's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Poteau a Good Place to Live?
C+
2.9 / 5.0 - Fair
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Poteau residents earn a median household income of $49,789 , which is 34% below the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $23,433. The unemployment rate stands at 3.2% (11% below the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 18.2% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 3,751 business establishments, including 302 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Poteau is $142,400 , 49% below the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $177,963. Median rent is $818/month, with 26.2% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 87.8 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1977.
Safety & Crime
Poteau reports 413 violent crimes per 100,000 residents
, which is 9% above the national average of 380/100K.
Property crime is 3,761/100K. The murder rate is 0.0/100K.
Education
15.9% of adults in Poteau hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(53% below the national average).
81.3% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.1/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Poteau has an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C).
Winters average 42°F in January while summers reach 83°F in July. The area gets 318 sunny days per year. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 45.
Data Overview
People
Population8,903
Median Age34.8 yrs
Density335/mi²
Male / Female49% / 51%
Foreign Born13.6%
Veterans8.0%
Economy
B
Median Income$49,789
Per Capita$23,433
Unemployment3.2%
Poverty18.2%
County GDP$9,255M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,061
Housing
A+
Home Value$142,400
Rent$818
Ownership61.2%
Zillow$177,963
Housing Units3,582
Rent Burden26.2%
Crime
F
Violent413/100K
Property3,761/100K
Murder0.0/100K
Assault346/100K
Burglary882/100K
Health
Obesity41.2%
Diabetes13.6%
Smoking23.0%
Heart Disease7.8%
Premature Death11,659/100K
Climate
Avg Temp63°F
Sunny Days318/yr
AQI45 (Good)
Elevation432 ft
Education
C
Bachelor's+15.9%
High School+81.3%
Graduate+4.7%
School Score5.1/10
Community
2024 VoteR 68% / D 30%
Commute23 min
Broadband82.0%
Internet Speed154 Mbps
EV Stations2
Libraries7
Did You Know?
Poteau was founded in 1885.
The median home in Poteau was built in 1977.
The nearest airport is Fort Smith Regional (20 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.504 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Moderate" by FEMA.
19.0% of the population has a disability.
13.6% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 154 Mbps.
There are 302 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 19 fatal vehicle crashes.
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