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Payne County

OK · Pop. 82,290 · Mixed County

44/100Homestead Score

Payne County, Oklahoma covers 685 square miles with a population of 82,290 and a density of 120.1 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, haylage, wheat. The median home price is $218,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.87%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 198-day growing season, average summer highs of 91.3°F and average winter lows of 26.4°F. Annual rainfall averages 37.6 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Stillwater Medical Center is 6.1 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 95.7% 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: 0.87%
Growing Season: 198 days
Broadband: 95.7%
Density: 120.1/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 198-day growing season in USDA zone 7a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.87% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • Broadband reaches 95.7% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Stillwater Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 6.1 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A low unemployment rate of 3.3% reflects a stable local job base.

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 23.9% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.

At a glance

Payne County, OK is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.

Homestead score
44/100
Median home price
$218k
Property tax
0.87%
Growing season
198 days (zone 7a)
Annual rainfall
37.6"
Broadband
95.7%
Nearest hospital
Stillwater Medical Center, 6.1 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.87%
Median Household Income$48,937
Poverty Rate23.9%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$218K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone7a
Growing Season198 days
Annual Rainfall37.6 inches
Avg Summer High91.3°F
Avg Winter Low26.4°F
Top CropsHay, Haylage, Wheat

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought8/10
Wildfire9/10
Tornado10/10
Flood7/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalStillwater Medical Center (6.1 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities4

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage95.7%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate3.3%
Ag EconomyModerate

Homesteading in Payne County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Payne County?
Payne County is in USDA hardiness zone 7a with a 198-day growing season, average summer highs of 91.3°F, and average winter lows of 26.4°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, wheat.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $218,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.87%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 95.7% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Stillwater Medical Center is 6.1 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.