Demographics

By Barbara Gibson, Indian Nations Council of Governments (INCOG)

The Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Area is made up of Tulsa County and six surrounding counties: Creek, Okmulgee, Osage, Pawnee, Rogers and Wagoner. According to the Census Bureau, the 2021 population estimate for the Tulsa MSA was 1,023,988 — an increase of over 85,510 people since 2010, achieving the 1-million-person count necessary for designation as one of the nation’s major metropolitan areas, which is important for economic development opportunities. Tulsa County claims over 65% of the MSA population, with a population estimate of 672,858 in 2021.

The City of Tulsa’s 2010 population was reported by the Census Bureau to be 391,906. The 2021 population estimate for Tulsa shows the city growing by over 19,000 people to a total of 411,401. Many of Tulsa’s neighboring communities have continued to grow, as well. Reports for surrounding communities, based on 2021 Census estimates list population in Bixby, 29,242; Broken Arrow, 116,330; Collinsville 8,346; Glenpool 13,859; Jenks, 26,661; Owasso, 38,732; Sand Springs, 19,973; and Sapulpa, 22,213.

The most recent data from the American Community Survey 2021 reports the City of Tulsa’s population has grown by 5.0% since 2010. The white race group has declined by more than 12% over the past 10 years as a percent of the total city population. The race group of African American also has seen a decline over the decade by 5.8%. The race group categories of Asian, Native Hawaiian and Two or more races have significantly increased in the 10-year time span. These shifts in the racial makeup of the City’s population are partially due to the way in which people identified with the change in the race categories when filling out their census forms. All minority groups together represent over 44% of the City of Tulsa population. The Hispanic community accounts for 17% of the City’s population and an increase of 27% since 2010.

Population Density Tulsa County Block Groups

The number of housing units in the city has increased by more than 7,000 units over the past 10 years with 89% of those being occupied today. The housing stock has over 62% single family homes with an average of 2.3 persons per household. The population of our citizens continues to age with the 62 to 79 years of age group growing over 21% since 2010. More than half (50.9%) of our population falls within the working age group of 25 to 64 years of age.

City Of Tulsa By Race Groups 2020 Census Data

WHITE – 56%

BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN – 14%

AMERICAN INDIAN OR ALASKA NATIVE – 5%

ASIAN – 3%

NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDER – 0%

SOME OTHER RACE – 6%

TWO OR MORE RACES – 16%