Howe is a town in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, Howe had a population of 625. The town was once noted for producing coal and coke, but today is chiefly supported by agriculture.

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

Town numbers

ZIP code74940

Area codeSign in to add

Living in Howe

Housing in Howe

$204K▲ 4.8% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Howe home is worth about $204,000, up 4.8% in a year, 9% below the Oklahoma typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Howe

—

Not graded

Howe has fewer than 1,000 residents. At that size one or two incidents swing the numbers so much that a grade wouldn't be fair, so we show the counts instead.

Violent0

Property2

Reported in 20252

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

Work & commute in Howe

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Howe for work: only 2% work in town. The top destinations are Heavener (21%), Poteau (18%) and Fort Smith (8%). Half commute less than 13 miles.

Heavener

21%

Poteau

18%

Fort Smith, AR

Oklahoma City

2%Work in townlive and work in Howe 13 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 128Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Howe →

Health in Howe

Compared with Oklahoma

15worse than OK

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 17 are too close to call.

Conditions 4▼ 8 close Habits 2▼ 2 close Care 2▼ 5 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs 4▼ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

23.8%More smokersOK 16.3% · worse 11.2%More adults with COPDOK 8% · worse 25.9%More adults facing food insecurityOK 18.5% · worse

Care nearby

Eastern Oklahoma Medical CenterPoteau · 6.8 mi · ER · rural critical access

Hwc - PoteauPoteau · 9.9 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 Howe · CMS · HRSAHealth in Howe →

Natural hazards in Howe

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 79% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🔥 Wildfire

1Does Howe flood?paid flood claims since 2009 5Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Howe

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

Climate in Howe

Full climate →

Howe has mild winters and hot summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 93°, a January night drops to 29°.

54° / 31°Winter

73° / 49°Spring

91° / 68°Summer

75° / 50°Fall

When is the first frost?Around Nov 2, with the last in spring around Apr 6.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.6° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

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

Schools in Howe

All Howe schools →

C⁻

School Grade C-

The public schools Howe’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, trail 76% of Oklahoma’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

DistrictHOWESchools2

Howe Es CElementary · Grades PK–8 · 447 students Howe HS C+High · Grades 9–12 · 219 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.