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.
$870 median rent · $53,457 median income · #8 cheapest rent in Oklahoma
Located in
Logan County, Oklahoma
Guthrie is a city and county seat in Logan County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City Metroplex. The population was 10,191 at the 2010 census, a 2.7 percent increase from the 9,925 at the 2000 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$837 median rent · $41,848 median income · #4 cheapest rent in Oklahoma
Located in
Okmulgee County, Oklahoma
Okmulgee is a city in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population at the 2010 census was 12,321, a loss of 5.4 percent since the 2000 census figure of 13,022. It has been the capital of the Muscogee Nation since the United States Civil War. The name is from the Creek word oki mulgee which means “boiling waters” in English. Other translations put it as “babbling brook” or ‘Effluvium’. The site was chosen because of the nearby rivers and springs. Okmulgee is 38 miles south of Tulsa and 13 miles north of Henryetta via US-75.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$932 median rent · $67,519 median income · #17 cheapest rent in Oklahoma
Located in
Wagoner County, Oklahoma
Coweta is a city in Wagoner County, Oklahoma, United States and is a suburb of Tulsa. As of 2010, the population was 9,943. Part of the Creek Nation in Indian Territory before Oklahoma became a U.S. state, the town was first settled in 1840.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$916 median rent · $58,869 median income · #15 cheapest rent in Oklahoma
Located in
Washington County, Oklahoma
Bartlesville is a city mostly in Washington County in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 35,750 at the 2010 census, with a 2015 estimate of 36,595 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Bartlesville is 47 miles north of Tulsa and 18 miles south of the Kansas border. It is the county seat of Washington County. The Caney River runs through Bartlesville.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$858 median rent · $50,213 median income · #7 cheapest rent in Oklahoma
Located in
Muskogee County, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in and the county seat of Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. Home to Bacone College, it lies approximately 48 miles southeast of Tulsa. The population of the city was 39,223 as of the 2010 census, a 2.4 percent increase from 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,057 median rent · $63,817 median income · #27 cheapest rent in Oklahoma
Located in
Tulsa County, Oklahoma
Sapulpa is a city in Creek and Tulsa counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 20,544 at the 2010 United States census, compared to 19,166 at the 2000 census. As of 2013 the estimated population was 20,836. It is the county seat of Creek County.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$1,009 median rent · $58,685 median income · #25 cheapest rent in Oklahoma
Located in
Rogers County, Oklahoma
Claremore is a city and the county seat of Rogers County in northeastern Oklahoma, United States. The population was 18,581 at the 2010 census, a 17.1 percent increase from 15,873 at the 2000 census. Located in the Ozark Mountains foothills, the city is part of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area and home to Rogers State University. It is best known as the birthplace and home of early 20th-century entertainer Will Rogers.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$896 median rent · $58,054 median income · #12 cheapest rent in Oklahoma
Located in
Stephens County, Oklahoma
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$835 median rent · $46,410 median income · #2 cheapest rent in Oklahoma
Located in
Ottawa County, Oklahoma
Miami is a city in and county seat of Ottawa County, Oklahoma, United States, founded in 1891. Lead and zinc mining established by 1918, caused it to boom. It is the capital of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, after which it is named, the Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma, Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma, Peoria Tribe of Indians and Shawnee Tribe. As of the 2010 census, it had 13,570 inhabitants a one percent decline since 2000.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$839 median rent · $54,463 median income · #5 cheapest rent in Oklahoma
Located in
Woodward County, Oklahoma
Woodward is a city in and the county seat of Woodward County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the largest city in a nine-county area. The population was 12,051 at the 2010 census.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
The receipts
Compare the top ten
Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Oklahoma’s statewide median.
Oklahoma statewide median: $65,039
Oklahoma statewide median: $220,468
On the map
Where to retire in Oklahoma
Saturday Night Science
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.
The full plate
Best Places To Retire In Oklahoma
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Retire Score | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guthrie | 11.00 | 11,243 | $53,457 | $249,714 | $870 |
| 2 | Okmulgee | 12.40 | 11,348 | $41,848 | $106,354 | $837 |
| 3 | Coweta | 13.80 | 10,433 | $67,519 | $268,321 | $932 |
| 4 | Bartlesville | 15.00 | 37,878 | $58,869 | $184,330 | $916 |
| 5 | Muskogee | 15.20 | 36,758 | $50,213 | $141,346 | $858 |
| 6 | Sapulpa | 15.50 | 22,570 | $63,817 | $212,650 | $1,057 |
| 7 | Claremore | 15.50 | 20,166 | $58,685 | $257,872 | $1,009 |
| 8 | Duncan | 16.20 | 22,958 | $58,054 | $135,089 | $896 |
| 9 | Miami | 18.30 | 12,926 | $46,410 | $126,482 | $835 |
| 10 | Woodward | 18.50 | 11,882 | $54,463 | $133,256 | $839 |
| 11 | Broken Arrow | 19.00 | 118,180 | $86,765 | $286,846 | $1,320 |
| 12 | Guymon | 19.20 | 12,539 | $60,075 | $170,436 | $887 |
| 13 | Choctaw | 19.20 | 12,303 | $100,574 | $302,582 | $1,208 |
| 14 | Yukon | 19.50 | 25,529 | $75,273 | $273,583 | $1,274 |
| 15 | Bixby | 19.80 | 30,155 | $104,404 | $331,056 | $1,393 |
| 16 | Chickasha | 19.80 | 16,539 | $54,111 | $155,772 | $888 |
| 17 | Altus | 20.00 | 18,646 | $55,295 | $106,431 | $854 |
| 18 | Mustang | 20.10 | 22,192 | $87,844 | $277,553 | $1,287 |
| 19 | Ada | 20.10 | 16,575 | $53,507 | $180,732 | $894 |
| 20 | Stillwater | 20.40 | 49,269 | $43,700 | $263,398 | $947 |
| 21 | Tulsa | 20.50 | 413,794 | $59,838 | $217,450 | $1,052 |
| 22 | Tahlequah | 20.90 | 16,935 | $49,581 | $193,816 | $835 |
| 23 | Sand Springs | 21.10 | 20,117 | $75,645 | $236,865 | $1,002 |
| 24 | El Reno | 21.60 | 18,557 | $56,219 | $179,646 | $968 |
| 25 | Weatherford | 21.80 | 12,004 | $54,704 | $232,157 | $804 |
| 26 | Enid | 21.90 | 50,653 | $62,125 | $135,597 | $914 |
| 27 | Edmond | 22.00 | 96,825 | $103,183 | $353,954 | $1,344 |
| 28 | McAlester | 22.00 | 18,111 | $51,930 | $155,080 | $915 |
| 29 | Owasso | 22.20 | 40,151 | $79,036 | $315,428 | $1,270 |
| 30 | Newcastle | 22.20 | 13,001 | $93,398 | $287,727 | $1,105 |
| 31 | Ardmore | 22.60 | 24,877 | $53,900 | $152,584 | $1,006 |
| 32 | Durant | 22.70 | 19,746 | $46,812 | $223,126 | $953 |
| 33 | Jenks | 22.80 | 27,102 | $111,004 | $352,171 | $1,602 |
| 34 | Shawnee | 23.20 | 31,671 | $55,815 | $178,527 | $936 |
| 35 | Glenpool | 23.80 | 14,151 | $79,525 | $242,874 | $1,370 |
| 36 | Norman | 26.50 | 129,672 | $67,704 | $262,839 | $1,090 |
| 37 | Bethany | 27.20 | 20,560 | $56,591 | $178,150 | $1,071 |
| 38 | Moore | 27.70 | 63,420 | $80,420 | $222,549 | $1,340 |
| 39 | Lawton | 29.30 | 90,595 | $54,433 | $139,275 | $967 |
| 40 | Warr Acres | 29.50 | 10,466 | $53,273 | $180,177 | $919 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, FBI UCR, OpenFlights. 40 cities with more than 10,000 residents.
Summary
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. Not sold on Oklahoma? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.
Questions and answers
Best Places To Retire In Oklahoma FAQs
What is the best place to retire in Oklahoma?
Guthrie is the best place to retire in Oklahoma for 2026, according to Saturday Night Science. Okmulgee and Coweta are next.
What are the best places to retire in Oklahoma?
The best places to retire in Oklahoma are Guthrie, Okmulgee, Coweta, Bartlesville, Muskogee, Sapulpa, Claremore, Duncan, Miami, and Woodward. We ranked all 40 cities with more than 10,000 residents.
How do you rank retirement spots?
We score every qualifying Oklahoma city on rent, crime, things to do, weather, airport access, and median age. The city that balances all six best, Guthrie, takes the top spot.
How much does a home cost in Guthrie?
The median home in Guthrie runs $249,714, against $220,468 across Oklahoma as a whole. Across the full top ten, the median home costs $162,838.
Which Oklahoma place came in last for retirees?
Warr Acres lands at the bottom of the retirement ranking for Oklahoma. Not ready to retire anyway? Then Warr Acres might suit you fine.
