RANK #3 / 996 NAT · #1 / 14 OK · POP 66,606
1YR FORECAST: +2.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +47%
Muskogee County, Oklahoma, is distinguished by its historical significance, notably Fort Gibson, which claims to be the oldest town in Oklahoma, established in 1824. Located in east-central Oklahoma, approximately 48 miles southeast of Tulsa, the county offers a blend of prairie grassland and the rising Cookson Hills on the western edge of the Ozark Mountains. The confluence of the Arkansas, Verdigris, and Grand rivers, known as "Three Forks," provides extensive outdoor recreation opportunities, including boating, fishing, hiking, and biking. Honor Heights Park in Muskogee, the county seat, is a major attraction with walking trails, gardens, and seasonal festivals like the Azalea Festival. The average commute time for residents is around 22.1 minutes.
Life in Muskogee County offers an affordable lifestyle, appealing to families and retirees seeking a more relaxed pace. The economy is experiencing growth driven by investments in technology, energy, and manufacturing sectors. Major employers include companies in advanced manufacturing and food processing. The county's public schools, such as Sadler Arts Academy and Fort Gibson Public Schools, serve a diverse student body. Muskogee County Transit provides public transportation with fixed routes and demand-response services within the city and to surrounding towns.
Below national median
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 3.0x — home prices are low 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.
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 →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Google Data Center Campuses (2 facilities)
Google
|
$9,000M | Planned |
|
Core Scientific High-Performance Computing Data Center
Core Scientific / CoreWeave
|
$4,000M | Under Construction |
|
Stardust Power Lithium Refinery
Stardust Power Inc.
|
$1,200M | Under Construction |
|
Acacia House Group LLC Data Center Campus (up to 4 phases)
Acacia House Group LLC
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
High Spring Solar Project
NextEra Energy Resources
|
$530M | Planned |
|
Bodark Solar Energy Center
Invenergy
|
$300M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Muskogee County ranks #3 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 100/100. The composite score reflects long-term strength — housing, income, and migration patterns — but near-term hiring is soft (employment is down 3.9% year-over-year). Median household income here is $50,289.
By national standards, Muskogee County is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $128,900, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.39 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $793/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
Muskogee County's job market is contracting (-3.9% YoY) while population is roughly stable (-0.4% change). Home values are -2.4% over the past 12 months. Hiring headwinds without an offsetting exodus — residents are staying, but local employers are shedding payroll.
In significant numbers — 5.33% of Muskogee 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.