RANK #761 / 1001 NAT · #15 / 15 OK · POP 168,985
1YR FORECAST: -0.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +24%
Canadian County, Oklahoma, is often recognized for its historic ties to the Chisholm Trail, a significant cattle drive route from the 1800s that once brought millions of cattle and horses through the area. Located in central Oklahoma, adjacent to Oklahoma County, it is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. Interstate 40 runs directly through the county, with connections to I-35 and I-44 nearby, making commutes to Oklahoma City feasible, often within 30 minutes from towns like El Reno. The community offers a relaxed lifestyle with access to city amenities, and outdoor recreation includes Lake El Reno for water sports and fishing, along with various parks.
Life in Canadian County appeals to families and young professionals, many of whom own their homes. The public school systems in towns like Yukon, Mustang, and Piedmont are highly rated. The local economy is supported by a mix of agribusiness, manufacturing, and retail trade, with proximity to the Oklahoma City market. Energy sectors, including oil and gas production, also contribute to the county's economic landscape.
Canadian County is one of 43 U.S. counties in this market profile — near the profile average on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +1.4% runs above the profile's typical -0.0%.
See all 43 Sun Belt Exurban Boom counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 20.6x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Mustang Natural Gas Plant
Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co.
|
$462M | Operating |
|
Canadian Hills Wind Farm
Canadian Hills Wind LLC (Operated by EDF Renewables)
|
$294M | Operating |
|
Canadian Battery/Storage (200 MW)
Undisclosed
|
$200M | Planned |
|
Shell Creek Renewable Energy Center
US Solar
|
$200M | Planned |
|
Canadian Battery/Storage (100 MW)
Undisclosed
|
$100M | Planned |
|
Multiple Residential Developments (Combined)
Various (e.g., LGI Homes, Rausch-Coleman Homes)
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
At 23/100, Canadian County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $87,751 combined with job growth of -0.9% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
By national standards, Canadian County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $246,200, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $1,289/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Canadian County's population is growing — up +3.9% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.9%). Home values shifted +1.4% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
In significant numbers — 6.22% of Canadian County's current population relocated from another state, well above the national norm. That level of in-migration usually signals a county where jobs, affordability, or quality of life are pulling people in from elsewhere.