Poteau, OK vs Tonkawa, OK

Tonkawa is moderately more affordable than Poteau, with a 8.6% lower cost of living index. Poteau scores 68 compared to 62 for Tonkawa, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Poteau can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Poteau is $818/month compared to $802/month in Tonkawa — a 2% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Tonkawa is more affordable at $83,000 median vs $142,400.

Median household income in Poteau is $49,789 compared to $57,711 in Tonkawa (-13.7%). Tonkawa offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Poteau spend roughly 19.7% of their income on rent, more than the 16.7% in Tonkawa.