Alva is a city in and the county seat of Woods County, Oklahoma, United States, along the Salt Fork Arkansas River. The population was 5,028 at the time of the 2020 Census, up from 4,945 at the 2010 census. The main campus of Northwestern Oklahoma State University is in Alva.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Alva ranks

All →

#2Shortest commute in OK #10Highest graduation rate in OK #7Most trails in OK All OK rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code73717

Area code580

Living in Alva

Housing in Alva

$111K▲ 7.6% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Alva home is worth about $111,000, up 7.6% in a year, 50% below the Oklahoma typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Alva

B⁺

Safety Grade B+

Alva reports less crime per resident than 65% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Alva 1

Oklahoma 4.1

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Alva 7.1

Oklahoma 18.4

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Alva

Full picture →

43% of Alva’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Oklahoma City (7%), Enid (3%) and Woodward (2%). Half commute less than 18 miles.

Oklahoma City

Enid

Woodward

Wichita, KS

43%Work in townlive and work in Alva 18 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 2,219Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Alva →

Health in Alva

B⁻

Health Grade B−

Healthier than 47% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 94% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Oklahoma

4better than OK·1worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 27 are too close to call.

Conditions 2▲ 10 close Habits all close Care 1▼ 6 close Mind all close Everyday needs 2▲ 2 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

11.7%Fewer adults facing housing insecurityOK 14.1% · better 10.7%Fewer adults with diabetesOK 12.8% · better 80.9%Fewer adults getting cholesterol checkedOK 84.3% · worse

Care nearby

Share Medical CenterAlva · 0.4 mi · ER · rural critical access

Gsp Health CherokeeCherokee · 17.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Alva · CMS · HRSAHealth in Alva →

Natural hazards in Alva

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 34% of U.S. communities.

🥶 Cold waves🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes

1Does Alva flood?paid flood claims since 2000 5Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Alva

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Alva →

Climate in Alva

Full climate →

Alva has chilly winters and hot summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 95°, a January night drops to 23°, and about 11 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

49° / 25°Winter

71° / 45°Spring

93° / 67°Summer

73° / 46°Fall

How much snow does Alva get?About 11 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 28, with the last in spring around Apr 10.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.8° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Alva →

Schools in Alva

All Alva schools →

A⁻

School Grade A-

The public schools Alva’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 81% of Oklahoma’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#25Best public schoolsof 128 in OK

DistrictALVASchools5

Washington EsElementary · Grades PK–1 · 240 students Longfellow Es AElementary · Grades 2–3 · 156 students Lincoln Es A-Elementary · Grades 4–5 · 151 students Alva MS BMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 228 students Alva HS B+High · Grades 9–12 · 279 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within OK. Ratings are from neighbors.