Español

Este sitio también está en español. Leer en español

City · 16,935 residents · Cherokee County, Oklahoma

Tahlequah , Oklahoma

In Tahlequah, a typical home is worth $185,400 and typical rent is $835 a month. Compared with all of Cherokee County, the typical home value is 10% higher, typical household income is 7% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 26 points lower.

WhatsApp

  • Typical home value

    $185,400

    10% above the county

    7% below Oklahoma

    • Tahlequah
    • Cherokee
    • Oklahoma

  • Typical rent

    $835a month

    About the same as the county

    18% below Oklahoma

    • Tahlequah
    • Cherokee
    • Oklahoma

  • Typical household income

    $49,581a year

    7% below the county

    24% below Oklahoma

    • Tahlequah
    • Cherokee
    • Oklahoma

  • Households that own their home

    40%

    26 points below the county

    26 points below Oklahoma

    • Tahlequah
    • Cherokee
    • Oklahoma

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$200,978
8.4% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,067 a month
1.1% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Tahlequah is in Cherokee County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Cherokee County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Tahlequah apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Tahlequah has the 2nd lowest homeownership rate of the 75 cities in Oklahoma with more than 5,000 people (40%).

  2. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Tahlequah rose 8.4%; in Oklahoma, it rose 2.6%.

  3. Nearby, in Sallisaw, the typical home value is $134,100: 28% less than in Tahlequah ($185,400).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Tahlequah

What homes there are in Tahlequah, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses are the majority in Tahlequah (55%), but less so than in Cherokee County (64%).

Year built

In Tahlequah, half of the homes were built before 1988; in Cherokee County, before 1989.

There are fewer big homes in Tahlequah than in Cherokee County: 49% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 60%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 95% of owner-occupied homes in Tahlequah sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

About 68% of rented homes in Tahlequah cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Cherokee County ($943).

With a mortgage

$1,337 a month

Cherokee County: $1,271 a month

Without a mortgage

$520 a month

Cherokee County: $417 a month

Owners with a mortgage

61%

Cherokee County: 46%

In Tahlequah, 61% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $1,337 a month, against $1,271 in Cherokee County. Without one it drops to $520.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Since 2015–2019, homes in Tahlequah gained value faster than in Cherokee County: 49% against 43%.

Much as in Cherokee County, the typical rent in Tahlequah rose 23% since 2015–2019.

The typical household income in Tahlequah rose 33% over that time; home values changed +49% and rent +23%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureTahlequahCherokee CountyOklahomaUnited States
Rental vacancy 5.6%5.8%6.5%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.5%1.2%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate3.6%2.9%3.4%
People per household 2.272.472.502.53
Drive alone 71%73%77%69%
Carpool 15%13%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0%3%
Walk or bike 5%4%2%3%
Work from home 6%8%9%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutesUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Cherokee County, the rental vacancy rate in Tahlequah is 5.6%.

On average, a household in Tahlequah has 2.27 people, fewer than in Cherokee County (2.47).

To get to work, 71% of workers in Tahlequah drive alone; in Cherokee County, 73%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Tahlequah?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Tahlequah, worth $185,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 36% of the typical household income in Tahlequah, which is $49,581 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $64,312 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Cherokee County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Tahlequah. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $6,489 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,501

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$182,042
Total interest
$261,916
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,131 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,157 a month

  • Tight

    $1,157 to $1,487 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,487 a month

    Your payment · 36%

Compared with the typical household income in Tahlequah ($49,581 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,501
Principal & interest$1,233
Property tax$108
Home insurance$77
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$82

You need at least $6,489 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Tahlequah and Cherokee County

Tahlequah is in Cherokee County, Oklahoma. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Tahlequah's own numbers

Typical home value
$185,400
Typical monthly rent
$835
Typical yearly household income
$49,581
Households that own their home
40%
Effective property tax rate
0.7%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Cherokee County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$943
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+53%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3.6%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Cherokee County.

Everything about Cherokee County

Buying

Buying a home in Tahlequah

A typical home in Tahlequah is worth $185,400: 10% above the county and 7% below Oklahoma. With the typical household income in Tahlequah ($49,581 a year), a typical home costs 3.7 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Tahlequah 3.7 years
  • Cherokee 3.2 years
  • Oklahoma 3.1 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Cherokee County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Cherokee County rose 83% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Cherokee County.

Period County Oklahoma U.S.
Last year (2025) +6.4% +2.6% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +53% +46% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +83% +71% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Tahlequah next to Cherokee County, Oklahoma and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Tahlequah $185,400
  • Cherokee $168,500
  • Oklahoma $199,800
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Tahlequah $835
  • Cherokee $831
  • Oklahoma $1,014
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Tahlequah $49,581
  • Cherokee $53,218
  • Oklahoma $65,039
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Tahlequah next to Cherokee County and Oklahoma
Measure Tahlequah Cherokee County Oklahoma U.S.
Typical home value $185,400 $168,500 $199,800 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $835 $831 $1,014 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $49,581 $53,218 $65,039 $80,734
Households that own their home 40% 66% 66% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,293 $911 $1,599 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.7% 0.54% 0.8% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 41% 42% 46% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Cherokee County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Tahlequah

For a typical $185,400 home in Tahlequah, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Tahlequah's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,501a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,489
    Cash to close
    $12,051
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $82

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,467a month

    Down payment
    $9,270
    Cash to close
    $14,832
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $88

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,190a month

    Down payment
    $37,080
    Cash to close
    $42,642
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,362a month

    Down payment
    $27,810
    Cash to close
    $33,372
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Tahlequah and for Cherokee County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Tahlequah

0.7%of the home’s value each year

$1,293 a year for the typical owner in Tahlequah.

  • Tahlequah 0.7%
  • Cherokee 0.54%
  • Oklahoma 0.8%

What Oklahoma publishes Homestead exemption of $1,000 of assessed value (Oklahoma Legislature (Oklahoma Statutes, Title 68))

Exemptions and deadlines in Oklahoma

Flood risk in Cherokee County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Cherokee County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
3.6%
618
Of those, with NFIP insurance
11%
County Oklahoma U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 3.6% 2.2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 11% 13% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Tahlequah

Typical rent in Tahlequah is $835 a month: about the same as the county. In Tahlequah, 41% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Cherokee County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($943 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $18.13 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Cherokee County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $746 $14.35 $29,840
1 bedroom $750 $14.42 $30,000
2 bedrooms $943 $18.13 $37,720
3 bedrooms $1,187 $22.83 $47,480
4 bedrooms $1,239 $23.83 $49,560

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Tahlequah

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Tahlequah is in ZIP code 74464.

For 2 bedrooms it is $970: $27 more than the fair market rent for Cherokee County ($943).

  • 74464 $970$1,220

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Tahlequah when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Tahlequah

HUD lists 14 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Tahlequah. These are the largest.

  • Garden Walk of Tahlequah 18165 W 798 Rd, Tahlequah 74464 174 homes, 127 low-income · For families (918) 456-0561
  • Tahlequah Terrace 608 Pamela St, Tahlequah 74464 118 homes, 117 low-income · 1 bd: 50 · 2 bd: 55 · 3 bd: 13 · In service since 2003 · For families, people experiencing homelessness
  • Ozark Ridge Phase II 1371 W Ozark, Tahlequah 74464 32 low-income homes · 3 bd: 32 · In service since 2011 · For people with disabilities, families
  • Stonebrook Park of Tahlequah 650 Stonebrook Dr, Tahlequah 74464 32 homes, 31 low-income · 2 bd: 1 · 3 bd: 31 · In service since 2011 · For people experiencing homelessness
  • Ozark Ridge Affordable Housing 1390 W Red Oak St, Tahlequah 74464 26 low-income homes · 3 bd: 26 · In service since 2009 · For people with disabilities, families

See all 15 buildings in Cherokee County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Tahlequah

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Cherokee County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Tahlequah

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Tahlequah or Cherokee County. The ones below are statewide in Oklahoma: they work in Tahlequah the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Oklahoma

  • OHFA Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance

    Statewide in Oklahoma

    Oklahoma state agency help of 3.5% of the loan for the down payment and closing costs, as a second lien with no interest and no installments, repaid when you pay off the loan, refinance or leave the home. Offered by Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency (OHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Tahlequah

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Tahlequah, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Quickcert, Inc.

    7122 S Sheridan Rd Ste 2, Tulsa · 53 miles away · Spanish

    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • Rental counseling
    • and 1 more
    (888) 383-8885

  • Tulsa Habitat for Humanity

    6235 E 13th St, Tulsa · 54 miles away

    • Budget and credit workshops
    • Workshops for new owners
    • and 2 more
    918-592-4224x107

  • Chickasaw Nation Division of Housing

    111 Rosedale Rd, Ada · 123 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (580) 421-8817

All counseling agencies in Oklahoma

Help in Spanish near Tahlequah

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Tahlequah

HUD lists no housing authority with an office in Cherokee County. One in a neighboring county or the state’s may serve the area.

All housing agencies in Oklahoma Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Tahlequah, with the typical home value.

Everything about Cherokee County Housing in Oklahoma

Neighboring counties

If Cherokee County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Tahlequah.

All guides
A smiling girl holds up a small mushroom she found on a forest outing.

Questions

Housing questions about Tahlequah

Short answers with the numbers for Tahlequah and all of Cherokee County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Tahlequah?

The typical home value in Tahlequah is $185,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Cherokee County it is $168,500.

How much does it cost to rent in Tahlequah?

Typical rent in Tahlequah is $835 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Cherokee County is $943.

What is the FHA loan limit in Tahlequah?

Tahlequah uses the FHA limit for all of Cherokee County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Tahlequah?

The typical homeowner in Tahlequah pays $1,293 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.7% of the home’s value; in Cherokee County, the rate is 0.54%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Tahlequah?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Cherokee County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).