United Way of Payne County releases updated Community Status Report
STILLWATER, OK, June 2, 2026 – United Way of Payne County released the fourth volume of its annual Community Status Report on Monday. The data-based report is produced in partnership with Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business.
It presents countywide demographic information for Payne County, OK and examines trends in topics like education, economics, and health and safety, along with other issues impacting quality of life for county residents. Those issues include employment and economic mobility, cost of living, housing affordability, homelessness, food insecurity, health and access to health care, childcare costs, educational attainment, crime and safety, child abuse and neglect, and domestic violence.
This year’s report includes new information about people classified by United Way as Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) who live above the federal poverty line but still struggle to cover their basic expenses.
By tracking key metrics using publicly available data sources, the report is intended to help identify barriers and obstacles people in Payne County may be facing. It provides a way to recognize community needs and challenges and gathers data that can be used to guide decisions about initiatives and programs that provide a safety net for vulnerable residents and improve the lives of people throughout the county.
“We expect the data contained in our report to become a resource for our community, the agencies we collaborate with and other stakeholders,” United Way Executive Director Ruth Cavins said. “Using a data-informed approach is the most effective way for United Way to develop solutions within our impact areas and for others as they work to address urgent needs and develop long-term solutions.” The current Community Status Report is available at https://www.unitedwaypaynecounty.org/communitystatus, along with reports from previous years.