Kay County, Oklahoma: commercial real estate data.
Kay County, Oklahoma had an estimated 43,437 residents on July 1, 2024, down 0.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 43,700, across 920 square miles. County output reached $2.33 bn in 2024, 1,047 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 23 7(a) approvals worth $16.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Kay County
How many people live in Kay County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202443,625
- Households16,776
- Average household size2.60
- Median household income$58,423
- Median age38.5
- Median gross rent$842 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$124,700
- Home value to household income2.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher19.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree6.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over28,907
- Population under 1810,822
- Share under 1824.8 percent
- Population 65 and over8,448
- Share 65 and over19.4 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6424,355
- Civilian labor force19,950
- Unemployment rate5.8 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over60.8 percent
- Rank by population among Oklahoma counties22nd of 77
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1133rd of 3,222
Kay County is the 22nd largest of 77 Oklahoma counties by population. A median home costs 2.1 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.8 percent against 19.4 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Kay County
Is Kay County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202443,437
- Census 2020 base population43,700
- Population change since the 2020 census base-0.60 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-184
- Births, 2024537
- Deaths, 2024574
- Natural change, 2024-37
- Net domestic migration, 2024-176
- Net international migration, 202430
- Total net migration, 2024-146
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024294
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2057th of 3,144
The county has lost 0.60 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population fell in 2024 from both sources: deaths exceeded births and more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Kay County
Where are people moving to Kay County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving950
- People arriving, from those returns1,790
- Tax returns filed by households leaving881
- Net household movement69
- Adjusted gross income arriving$43.3 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$2.7 m
- Average income of an arriving household$45,547
- Average income of a leaving household$46,015
- Largest single originOsage County (70 households)
- Largest single destinationOklahoma County (84 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Osage County | 70 | 153 | $3.0 m |
| Payne County | 64 | 105 | $3.0 m |
| Cowley County | 61 | 124 | $2.6 m |
| Oklahoma County | 58 | 97 | $2.3 m |
| Sedgwick County | 50 | 77 | $2.3 m |
| Tulsa County | 40 | 68 | $1.3 m |
| Noble County | 30 | 62 | $1.1 m |
Households arriving report $468 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Osage County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Kay County
What is the Kay County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$2.33 bn
- County GDP, 2023$2.31 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20241.1 percent
- GDP change over five years24.5 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Oklahoma areas BEA publishes21st of 77
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1158th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$53,470
Output grew 1.1 percent in the latest year and 24.5 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Kay County
Employment by industry in Kay County
- Covered employment, annual average17,181
- Establishments reporting1,232
- Average annual pay$49,720
- Average weekly wage$956
- Retail trade, employment2,251
- Retail trade, average annual pay$32,851
- Manufacturing, employment2,188
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$57,425
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,942
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$44,651
- Accommodation and food services, employment1,561
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$18,429
- Construction, employment892
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment656
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 2,251 | 174 | $32,851 |
| Manufacturing | 2,188 | 58 | $57,425 |
| Health care and social assistance | 1,942 | 118 | $44,651 |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,561 | 104 | $18,429 |
| Construction | 892 | 113 | $64,398 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 656 | 58 | $38,654 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 538 | 40 | $67,579 |
| Wholesale trade | 438 | 60 | $67,589 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,251 jobs, 13.1 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Kay County
How many businesses are in Kay County?
- Establishments, all industries1,047
- Employment at those establishments14,063
- Annual payroll$657.6 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents24.0
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Kay County
Building permits in Kay County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202415
- Declared construction value permitted$3.4 m
- Single family units authorized15
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$224,920
- Units authorized per 1,000 households0.9
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Kay County
SBA loans in Kay County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded23
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$16.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$706,343
- Median 7(a) approval$287,100
- 10th percentile approval$52,200
- 90th percentile approval$1,588,640
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)336
- Jobs per approval14.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active10
- Distinct industries receiving approvals19
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer30.4 percent
- Loans on real estate terms7
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter12
- Franchise loans5
- Franchise share of approvals21.7 percent
- Most active lenderEquity Bank (10)
- 504 approvals recorded5
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.3 m
- Average 504 approval$267,200
- Median 504 approval$335,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval8.2
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved30.7
- Most active CDCRural Enterprises of Oklahoma, Inc. (3)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$17.6 m
The average approval of $706,343 sits well above the median of $287,100, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. 30.4 percent of approvals run on real estate terms of 240 months or more, so this is a market where SBA credit is buying buildings, not just funding operations.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Kay County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Kay County
Do SBA loans in Kay County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded4
- Paid in full3
- Charged off1
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full3
- Status: Cancelled4
- Status: Exempt from disclosure15
Only 4 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Kay County
SBA lending by place in Kay County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Ponca City, approvals15
- Blackwell, approvals5
- Tonkawa, approvals1
- Ramona, approvals1
- Newkirk, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Ponca City | 15 | $12,015,100 |
| Blackwell | 5 | $3,749,800 |
| Tonkawa | 1 | $270,000 |
| Ramona | 1 | $150,000 |
| Newkirk | 1 | $61,000 |
Ponca City accounts for 15 approvals against 5 in Blackwell. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Kay County
How large is Kay County?
- Land area920 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Oklahoma counties28th of 77
- Width, east to west39.4 mi
- Height, north to south28 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land47
- Establishments per square mile1.14
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Kay County
Flood risk in Kay County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Kay County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 400477
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book9
- Of those, participating in the NFIP7
- NFIP participation rate77.8 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 5
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
- Radon levels in Kay County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Kay County (community 400477), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Kay County in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 5, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 77.8 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Kay County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Kay County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202443,625
- Households16,776
- Average household size2.60
- Median household income$58,423
- Median age38.5
Common questions
Kay County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Kay County, Oklahoma?
The Census Bureau estimates 43,437 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 43,625, in 16,776 households, ranking 22nd of 77 Oklahoma counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Kay County's population growing?
The population has fallen 0.60 percent since the 2020 census base of 43,700, to 43,437 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 537 births against 574 deaths, with net migration of -146. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Kay County?
$58,423. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $124,700, which is 2.1 times income, and median gross rent is $842 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Kay County?
1,047 establishments, employing 14,063 people with an annual payroll of $657.6 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Kay County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 2,251 jobs, 13.1 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 17,181 jobs at an average annual pay of $49,720, or $956 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Kay County?
23 7(a) approvals totaling $16.2 m since FY2020, across 10 lenders, with a median approval of $287,100, plus 5 504 approvals worth $1.3 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Kay County?
15 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $3.4 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Kay County?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Kay County come from?
The largest single origin is Osage County, with 70 households. Arriving households report an average income of $45,547 against $46,015 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Kay County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Kay County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Kay County
Cities and places in Kay.
11 Census places lie wholly or partly in Kay County. All 11 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ponca City | city | 24,326 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Blackwell | city | 6,042 | 5 | Wholly in this county |
| Tonkawa | city | 3,014 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Newkirk | city | 2,043 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| White Eagle | CDP | 331 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Kaw City | city | 283 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Tonkawa Tribal Housing | CDP | 276 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Braman | town | 179 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Nardin | CDP | 130 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Kildare | town | 64 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Peckham | CDP | 42 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 23 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Kay County, the largest being Ramona (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.