Don’t run out and buy a condo on wheels just yet; you should check out Oklahoma’s best places to retire before you put any wheels in motion.
If you’re looking for the top ten best places to retire in Oklahoma for 2026, you’re going to have to take a look below at our list of the best places to retire in Oklahoma for 2026.
Here’s how we identified the best places to retire in the Sooner State. We looked at the 40 Oklahoma cities with at least 10,000. We then considered factors including affordable housing, proximity to an international, crime, and things to do.
If it’s safety that’s important to you, many of Oklahoma’s best places to retire are also some of the state’s safest places to live. And if it’s first class, easily accessible amenities that you’re looking for, you can play 18 holes of golf at the Golf Club in Muskeego one weekend and be fishing on the Okmulgee Creek the next.
So, want to know where the 65 and older crowd is best served in Oklahoma? Keep reading.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
There might not be a white sandy beach to kick up your feet in Oklahoma, but it is quiet. And if you choose to live in these Oklahoma places, you won’t have to worry about high crime either.
So, where is the best place to retire in Oklahoma located? According to the latest data, the best place to retire in Oklahoma is Guthrie.
Look below for a list of the other great Oklahoma places that made this list.
Why did Guthrie take the top spot? And where are Tulsa and Norman?
For more Oklahoma state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Oklahoma
- Cheapest Places To Live In Oklahoma
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Oklahoma
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Oklahoma For 2026
/10
Population: 11,243
Median Income: $53,457
Median Home Price: $249,713
Median Rent: $870
Distance to Closest Airport: 88 miles
More on Guthrie: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,348
Median Income: $41,848
Median Home Price: $106,354
Median Rent: $837
Distance to Closest Airport: 39 miles
More on Okmulgee: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,433
Median Income: $67,519
Median Home Price: $268,321
Median Rent: $932
Distance to Closest Airport: 19 miles
More on Coweta: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 37,878
Median Income: $58,869
Median Home Price: $184,330
Median Rent: $916
Distance to Closest Airport: 37 miles
More on Bartlesville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 36,758
Median Income: $50,213
Median Home Price: $141,345
Median Rent: $858
Distance to Closest Airport: 43 miles
More on Muskogee: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 22,570
Median Income: $63,817
Median Home Price: $212,649
Median Rent: $1,057
Distance to Closest Airport: 18 miles
More on Sapulpa: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 20,166
Median Income: $58,685
Median Home Price: $257,871
Median Rent: $1,009
Distance to Closest Airport: 17 miles
More on Claremore: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 22,958
Median Income: $58,054
Median Home Price: $135,089
Median Rent: $896
Distance to Closest Airport: 122 miles
More on Duncan: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,926
Median Income: $46,410
Median Home Price: $126,482
Median Rent: $835
Distance to Closest Airport: 73 miles
More on Miami: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,882
Median Income: $54,463
Median Home Price: $133,255
Median Rent: $839
Distance to Closest Airport: 153 miles
More on Woodward: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Sooner State for 2026
To create our ranking of the best places in Oklahoma to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Sooner State — 728 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 40 places from across the state.
For these 40, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 40, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Guthrie, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2026. This list reflects our eleventh time ranking the best places to retire in Oklahoma.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Oklahoma Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Oklahoma goes to Guthrie.
The best places to retire in Oklahoma are Guthrie, Okmulgee, Coweta, Bartlesville, Muskogee, Sapulpa, Claremore, Duncan, Miami, and Woodward.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- Warr Acres
- Lawton
- Moore
For more Oklahoma reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Oklahoma
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guthrie | 11,243 | $53,457 | $249,713 | $870 |
| 2 | Okmulgee | 11,348 | $41,848 | $106,354 | $837 |
| 3 | Coweta | 10,433 | $67,519 | $268,321 | $932 |
| 4 | Bartlesville | 37,878 | $58,869 | $184,330 | $916 |
| 5 | Muskogee | 36,758 | $50,213 | $141,345 | $858 |
| 6 | Sapulpa | 22,570 | $63,817 | $212,649 | $1,057 |
| 7 | Claremore | 20,166 | $58,685 | $257,871 | $1,009 |
| 8 | Duncan | 22,958 | $58,054 | $135,089 | $896 |
| 9 | Miami | 12,926 | $46,410 | $126,482 | $835 |
| 10 | Woodward | 11,882 | $54,463 | $133,255 | $839 |