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Cherokee County

OK · Pop. 47,621 · Suburban County

63/100Homestead Score

Cherokee County is a suburban county in Oklahoma, spanning 749 square miles with 47,621 residents at a density of 63.6 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, haylage, melons. A median home price of $160,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.56% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 202-day growing season, average summer highs of 89.3°F and average winter lows of 29.4°F. Annual rainfall averages 50.2 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Cherokee Nation W. W. Hastings Hospital is 2.6 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 98.3% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.56%
Growing Season: 202 days
Broadband: 98.3%
Density: 63.6/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 202-day growing season in USDA zone 7b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.56% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • A median home price of $160,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 98.3% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Cherokee Nation W. W. Hastings Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 2.6 miles away — strong local healthcare access.

Cons

  • Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
  • Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
  • A poverty rate of 19.3% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.

At a glance

Cherokee County, OK is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.

Homestead score
63/100
Median home price
$160k
Property tax
0.56%
Growing season
202 days (zone 7b)
Annual rainfall
50.2"
Broadband
98.3%
Nearest hospital
Cherokee Nation W. W. Hastings Hospital, 2.6 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.56%
Median Household Income$53,668
Poverty Rate19.3%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$160K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone7b
Growing Season202 days
Annual Rainfall50.2 inches
Avg Summer High89.3°F
Avg Winter Low29.4°F
Top CropsHay, Haylage, Melons

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought9/10
Wildfire10/10
Tornado9/10
Flood8/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalCherokee Nation W. W. Hastings Hospital (2.6 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities4

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage98.3%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate3.4%
Ag EconomyModerate

Homesteading in Cherokee County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Cherokee County?
Cherokee County is in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 202-day growing season, average summer highs of 89.3°F, and average winter lows of 29.4°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, melons.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $160,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.56%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 98.3% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Cherokee Nation W. W. Hastings Hospital is 2.6 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 4 hospitals in the county.

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Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.