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Pontotoc County

OK · Pop. 38,158 · Suburban County

68/100Homestead Score

Pontotoc County is a suburban county in Oklahoma, spanning 720 square miles with 38,158 residents at a density of 53 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on hay, haylage, wheat. The median home price is $171,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.63%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 220-day growing season, average summer highs of 91.7°F and average winter lows of 28.9°F. Annual rainfall averages 41.8 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Chickasaw Nation Medical Center is 2.7 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 93% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.63%
Growing Season: 220 days
Broadband: 93%
Density: 53/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 220-day growing season in USDA zone 7b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.63% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • A median home price of $171,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 93% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Chickasaw Nation Medical Center, with an emergency room, is just 2.7 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.
  • Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.

At a glance

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

Homestead score
68/100
Median home price
$171k
Property tax
0.63%
Growing season
220 days (zone 7b)
Annual rainfall
41.8"
Broadband
93%
Nearest hospital
Chickasaw Nation Medical Center, 2.7 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.63%
Median Household Income$62,564
Poverty Rate12.6%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$171K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone7b
Growing Season220 days
Annual Rainfall41.8 inches
Avg Summer High91.7°F
Avg Winter Low28.9°F
Top CropsHay, Haylage, Wheat

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought8/10
Wildfire10/10
Tornado9/10
Flood5/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalChickasaw Nation Medical Center (2.7 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities5

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage93%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate3%
Ag EconomyModerate

Homesteading in Pontotoc County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Pontotoc County?
Pontotoc County is in USDA hardiness zone 7b with a 220-day growing season, average summer highs of 91.7°F, and average winter lows of 28.9°F. The established crops are hay, haylage, wheat.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $171,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.63%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 93% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Chickasaw Nation Medical Center is 2.7 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 5 hospitals in the county.

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Nearby counties

The closest counties to Pontotoc County by distance, including across state lines.

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.