The 10 Best Places To Live In Oklahoma

Oklahoma may seem like a weird place to live for someone who loves the water, but the Sooner State actually has more man-made lakes than any other state in the U.S. There’s much about Oklahoma that can surprise and delight visitors and residents alike – and may make it the perfect place to put down roots. Check out what the state has to offer and why we think these cities are some of the best places to live in Oklahoma.

Is Oklahoma A Good Place To Live?

Wondering if Oklahoma is where you want to live next? Whether you love college football or country music, want to play in a field or in the water and dream of living in a place with small-town charm or a busy downtown, Oklahoma has amenities that fit many different lifestyles. And as one of the most affordable states in the country, it’s even more beneficial buying a house in Oklahoma.

10 Best Cities To Live In Oklahoma

When it comes to the best places to live in Oklahoma, the idea locale will depend on what you’re looking for in your new city. If someone wants the best place to live in Oklahoma for families, they’ll favor a low crime rate and better-ranked public schools or school districts. If someone wants a cheap place to live in Oklahoma, they may favor housing prices, costs of living and job opportunities, while being more flexible with crime rate or available amenities. And of course, those who prefer the big city over a small town, shouldn’t necessarily expect to live in the safest city in Oklahoma as large metro areas tend to have higher crime rates.

With that in mind, this list provides a mix of some of the best cities in the state that meet some of the different criteria listed above. From lower crime rates and top-ranked schools to affordable housing, numerous amenities or big city vibes – we hope to offer a recommendation for the many different types of home buyers in Oklahoma.

1. Edmond

• Population: 95,341
• Median household income: $84,223
• Median home sold price: $359,572
• Median monthly rental price: $1,092

According to Edmondok.gov, Edmond is one of the safest cities in the U.S. for a town of its size. Residents enjoy this type of security while experiencing the many recreation, shopping and dining opportunities. Those include more than 150 restaurants, 33 parks and multiple shopping centers, boutiques and antique shops. And while it may be hard to leave the splendors of the city, the Will Rogers World Airport is just a 30-minute drive away.

If you’re interested in purchasing a home in Edmond, check out the Edmond, OK, Housing Market Report and Edmond, OK, home listings to learn more about the area.

2. Broken Arrow

• Population: 116,330
• Median household income: $74,070
• Median home sold price: $250,583
• Median monthly rental price: $1,065

Broken Arrow has something for everyone in the family, from miles of walking trail and 800 acres of park to museums, community theater and farmer’s markets. Along with various attractions, the city also hosts several events throughout the year, including block parties, festivals and – the most famous of all – Rooster Days. The oldest festival in Oklahoma, Rooster Days is an annual event that includes a carnival, live music, fun run and parade.

Prepare to buy a home in Broken Arrow by reviewing the Broken Arrow, OK, Housing Market Report and Broken Arrow, OK, home listings.

3. Stillwater

• Population: 48,134
• Median household income: $34,906
• Median home sold price: $253,265
• Median monthly rental price: $826

Known as “America’s friendliest college town,” Stillwater takes pride in its welcoming vibe and for being the home of Oklahoma State University. It’s also the birthplace of Red Dirt music – a specific, rebellious country music sound that’s named after Oklahoma’s soil. The music scene isn’t the only quirky-cool thing about Stillwater. It’s also home to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

If you think Stillwater would be the perfect place to live, take a look at our Stillwater, OK, Housing Market Report and Stillwater, OK, home listings.

4. Jenks

• Population: 26,661
• Median household income: $87,306
• Median home sold price: $354,695
• Median monthly rental price: $1,272

Home to one of the Tulsa area’s first major lifestyle centers along the Arkansas River, Jenks has several attractions that are all linked by its RiverWalk. The multiuse trail system includes dining spots, entertainment hubs and even educational stops, like the Oklahoma Aquarium and Jenks High School – part of the city’s highly-rated public school system.

Ready to find your dream home in Jenks? Take a look at the Jenks, OK, Housing Market Report and Jenks, OK, home listings to know what to expect.

5. Bixby

• Population: 29,242
• Median household income: $83,955
• Median home sold price: $342,527
• Median monthly rental price: $1,062

From berry farms and pumpkin patches to pecan orchards and sod farms, there’s no short supply of homegrown goods in Bixby. Along with visiting these places to pick your own pantry fillings, you can also celebrate such abundance at one of the city’s festivals, including the popular Green Corn Festival and BBQ and Blues Festival. The city isn’t short on positivity, either, as it hosts its own optimist club, dedicated to improving the community and “bringing out the best in kids.”

Prepare for your Bixby home purchase by checking out the Bixby, OK, Housing Market Report and Bixby, OK, home listings.

6. Norman

• Population: 128,097
• Median household income: $58,111
• Median home sold price: $240,000
• Median monthly rental price: $882

As the home of Oklahoma University, Norman always has something going on. College football fans can take in a game at “The Palace on the Prairie” while creatives can explore various mediums for free at the university’s Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. The second college town on our list, Norman has various points of interest off campus, too. Residents can visit pick up goodies at the Norman Farm Market or hike, bike, swim and camp at Lake Thunderbird, Oklahoma’s only urban state park.

If you’re interested in purchasing a home in Norman, review our Norman, OK, Housing Market Report and Norman, OK, home listings.

7. Tulsa

• Population: 411,401
• Median household income: $49,474
• Median home sold price: $211,599
• Median monthly rental price: $839

Tulsa offers bustling city life, while keeping its southern charm. Known as the “Paris of Oklahoma,” the city also offers a wealth of various art experiences, including an abundance of Art Deco architecture to ogle. And while it’s the second largest city in Oklahoma, Tulsa is still a reasonable option for those wanting to live in a big metro area without the big-city prices. In fact, we listed it as one of the most affordable big cities in the U.S. in 2021.

Ready to move to Tulsa? Check out the Tulsa, OK, Housing Market Report and Tulsa, OK, home listings for more details.

8. Oklahoma City

• Population: 687,725
• Median household income: $56,456
• Median home sold price: $244,896
• Median monthly rental price: $884

Another “most affordable big city” to make our list is Oklahoma City (OKC), the state’s capital and largest city. While OKC is known for its cowboy culture – and home to the world’s largest feeder and stocker cattle market – there’s more to the city than meets the eye. OKC has districts as diverse as its population, including the Adventure District, Arts District, Automobile Alley and Boathouse District, the official U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training site for rowing.

Learn more about real estate trends in Oklahoma city by reviewing the Oklahoma City, OK, Housing Market Report and Oklahoma City, OK, home listings.

9. Bartlesville

• Population: 37,384
• Median household income: $53,098
• Median home price: $160,881
• Median monthly rental price: $730

Bartlesville may be a small city, but big things happen there. It was Oklahoma’s first oil boomtown, with the state’s first commercial oil well drilled in the town in 1897. Today Bartlesville is rich in thriving business communities and the arts. It’s home to the Price Tower, the only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed skyscraper. It’s also host to the annual OK Mozart Music Festival (OKM), a multiday event celebrating music from various genres, sung, played and performed in various ways both indoors and outside.

If you’re going to buy a home in Bartlesville, check out our Bartlesville, OK, Housing Market Report and Bartlesville, OK, home listings to know what to expect.

10. Ada

• Population: 16,842
• Median household income: $41,070
• Median home sold price: $145,375
• Median monthly rental price: $699

Sites, tastes and sounds abound in Ada, where residents enjoy exclusive cuisine from local restaurants, lakeside views, regional wines and live music from community stars before they rise to international fame. (Ada is the birthplace of country music megastar Blake Shelton, after all). And with the lowest median rent and median home sold price on our list, the small town offers more affordable housing than many other cities in the Sooner state.

Prepare for purchasing a home in Ada by reviewing our Ada, OK, Housing Market Report and Ada, OK, home listings.

The Bottom Line

It’s important to love where you live. To make sure you’re choosing the best place to live in Oklahoma based on your lifestyle, consider your financial and other life goals and do your research. Make a list of your and your family’s must-haves and nonnegotiables, talk to locals, read reviews, look at maps of the cities and lists of amenities and drive around the different areas. Create a housing budget and see what areas have home values that fall within that number. And when you’re ready to buy a home in the Oklahoma city that meets your wants and needs, start the approval process with Rocket Mortgage®.

*A number of the statistics in each listing were sourced from reliable sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, including 2021 population estimates, 2016–2020 median household incomes and 2016 – 2020 median gross rent. Data from the August 2022 Rocket Homes Trend Report was used for the median home sold values for each city. Links to each city report are included in the sections above. These stats are accurate as of September 15, 2022.

Population, median household income and median monthly rent for each city are found here:

Edmond

Broken Arrow

Stillwater

Jenks

Bixby

Norman

Tulsa

OKC

Bartlesville

Ada