Purcell is a city in and the county seat of McClain County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 6,651, a 13% increase from 2010. Founded in 1887, Purcell was a railroad town named after Edward B. Purcell, an official with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway ("AT&SF"). Purcell is often called the "Quarterhorse Capital of the World", and its official motto is "Heart of Oklahoma." The city has registered trademarks on both titles.

Official town website ↗

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

How Purcell ranks

All →

#10Highest graduation rate in OK #16Lowest depression in OK #27Fastest growing in OK All OK rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code73080

Area code405

Living in Purcell

Housing in Purcell

$226K▲ 0.8% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Purcell home is worth about $226,000, up 0.8% in a year, close to the Oklahoma typical home.

A balanced market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market18

Sale-to-list94.7%

Sold in May6

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Purcell

C⁻

Safety Grade C-

Purcell reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 80% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Purcell 3.4

Oklahoma 4.1

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Purcell 17.8

Oklahoma 18.4

U.S. 15.5

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

Work & commute in Purcell

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Purcell for work: only 14% work in town. The top destinations are Oklahoma City (25%), Norman (16%) and Goldsby (4%). Half commute less than 23 miles.

Oklahoma City

25%

Norman

16%

Goldsby

Tulsa

14%Work in townlive and work in Purcell 23 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 2,252Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Purcell →

Health in Purcell

C⁻

Health Grade C−

Healthier than 23% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Oklahoma

≈Just like Oklahoma

No difference on any of 32 measures is outside the margin of error.

Conditions all close Habits all close Care all close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

Nothing stands out: Purcell tracks Oklahoma closely.

Care nearby

Purcell Municipal HospitalPurcell · 0.6 mi · ER

Variety Care Women and Children NormanNorman · 13.8 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

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

Natural hazards in Purcell

High

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 60% of U.S. communities.

🌪️ Tornadoes🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves

11Does Purcell flood?paid flood claims since 1983 14Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Purcell MapPurcell vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

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

Climate in Purcell

Full climate →

Purcell has chilly winters and hot summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 94°, a January night drops to 28°, and about 4 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

53° / 30°Winter

73° / 49°Spring

92° / 69°Summer

74° / 50°Fall

How much snow does Purcell get?About 4 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Nov 2, with the last in spring around Apr 4.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 Purcell →

Schools in Purcell

All Purcell schools →

B⁺

School Grade B+

The public schools Purcell’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 71% of Oklahoma’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#60Best public schoolsof 128 in OK

DistrictPURCELLSchools4

Purcell EsElementary · Grades PK–2 · 387 students Purcell Intermediate School B+Elementary · Grades 3–5 · 328 students Purcell JHS B-Middle · Grades 6–8 · 310 students Purcell HS B+High · Grades 9–12 · 438 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.