You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in Oklahoma. Best sururbs in Oklahoma. Best counties in Oklahoma.
Etc., etc., etc.
But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Sooner State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.
Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in Oklahoma based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.
We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in Oklahoma ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In Oklahoma For 2025
- Nichols Hills
- Okarche
- Kingfisher
- Goodwell
- Buffalo
- Perry
- Cashion
- Justice
- Elgin
- Fort Gibson
- Goldsby
- McCord
- Luther
- Hydro
- Hooker
What’s the best small town in Oklahoma? Nichols Hills is the best small town in Oklahoma based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Nichols Hills, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.
But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.
For more reading on the Sooner State check out:
- Best Places To Live In Oklahoma
- Cheapest Places To Live In Oklahoma
- Most Dangerous Cities In Oklahoma
The 15 Best Small Towns In Oklahoma For 2025
1. Nichols Hills

/10
Population: 3,838
Median Income: $203,750 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $855,300 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.3%
2. Okarche
/10
Population: 1,270
Median Income: $87,250 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $232,300 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.8%
3. Kingfisher

/10
Population: 4,964
Median Income: $66,000 (28th Best)
Median Home Value: $219,400 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%
4. Goodwell
/10
Population: 1,271
Median Income: $85,982 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $122,000 (63rd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.5%
5. Buffalo
/10
Population: 1,244
Median Income: $69,875 (25th Best)
Median Home Value: $89,200 (122nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%
6. Perry

/10
Population: 4,471
Median Income: $63,000 (35th Best)
Median Home Value: $101,800 (106th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.7%
7. Cashion
/10
Population: 1,311
Median Income: $93,808 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $189,600 (15th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.9%
8. Justice
/10
Population: 1,601
Median Income: $93,580 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $214,900 (7th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%
9. Elgin
/10
Population: 3,560
Median Income: $81,739 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $243,600 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.6%
10. Fort Gibson
/10
Population: 3,805
Median Income: $69,632 (26th Best)
Median Home Value: $173,200 (26th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.3%
11. Goldsby
/10
Population: 2,902
Median Income: $96,650 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $374,400 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.1%
12. Mccord
/10
Population: 1,656
Median Income: $73,889 (18th Best)
Median Home Value: $182,700 (18th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.2%
13. Luther
/10
Population: 1,443
Median Income: $57,500 (54th Best)
Median Home Value: $205,600 (10th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.4%
14. Hydro
/10
Population: 1,179
Median Income: $41,250 (123rd Best)
Median Home Value: $155,000 (40th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.5%
15. Hooker

/10
Population: 1,553
Median Income: $47,461 (94th Best)
Median Home Value: $143,500 (47th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.7%
Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Oklahoma
We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in Oklahoma possible.
Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2019-2023 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Lowest Unemployment Rates
- Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
- Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
- Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
- Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
- Commute Times (Lower is better)
We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 157 to be exact.
We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 157, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Oklahoma. Top of that list — Nichols Hills.
This is our tenth time ranking the best small places to live in Oklahoma.
Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones
We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in Oklahoma are the best in which to live.
And who can argue with that?
The best small towns in Oklahoma are Nichols Hills, Okarche, Kingfisher, Goodwell, Buffalo, Perry, Cashion, Justice, Elgin, and Fort Gibson.
If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Oklahoma:
- Wetumka
- Turley
- Vian
For more Oklahoma reading, check out:
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Oklahoma
- Safest Places In Oklahoma
- Worst Places To Live In Oklahoma
Best Small Towns In Oklahoma
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Median Home Value | Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nichols Hills, OK | 3,838 | $203,750 | 0.3% | |
| 2 | Okarche, OK | 1,270 | $87,250 | 0.8% | |
| 3 | Kingfisher, OK | 4,964 | $66,000 | 1.4% | |
| 4 | Goodwell, OK | 1,271 | $85,982 | 5.5% | |
| 5 | Buffalo, OK | 1,244 | $69,875 | 2.4% | |
| 6 | Perry, OK | 4,471 | $63,000 | 1.7% | |
| 7 | Cashion, OK | 1,311 | $93,808 | 1.9% | |
| 8 | Justice, OK | 1,601 | $93,580 | 1.8% | |
| 9 | Elgin, OK | 3,560 | $81,739 | 5.6% | |
| 10 | Fort Gibson, OK | 3,805 | $69,632 | 3.3% | |
| 11 | Goldsby, OK | 2,902 | $96,650 | 2.1% | |
| 12 | Mccord, OK | 1,656 | $73,889 | 5.2% | |
| 13 | Luther, OK | 1,443 | $57,500 | 0.4% | |
| 14 | Hydro, OK | 1,179 | $41,250 | 2.5% | |
| 15 | Hooker, OK | 1,553 | $47,461 | 4.7% | |
| 16 | Beaver, OK | 1,625 | $53,500 | 2.2% | |
| 17 | Union City, OK | 1,603 | $100,000 | 2.1% | |
| 18 | Chouteau, OK | 2,005 | $51,081 | 3.4% | |
| 19 | Dickson, OK | 1,379 | $72,143 | 2.5% | |
| 20 | Kiefer, OK | 2,418 | $81,402 | 3.4% | |
| 21 | Fletcher, OK | 1,298 | $60,625 | 5.0% | |
| 22 | Jones, OK | 2,975 | $76,058 | 4.0% | |
| 23 | Sulphur, OK | 4,900 | $57,531 | 0.6% | |
| 24 | Granite, OK | 1,563 | $59,561 | 0.6% | |
| 25 | Bethel Acres, OK | 3,113 | $82,500 | 2.0% | |
| 26 | Byng, OK | 1,361 | $63,667 | 5.1% | |
| 27 | New Cordell, OK | 2,743 | $70,780 | 4.8% | |
| 28 | Oologah, OK | 1,766 | $83,977 | 6.6% | |
| 29 | Cache, OK | 3,045 | $61,554 | 7.4% | |
| 30 | North Enid, OK | 1,167 | $84,844 | 7.4% | |
| 31 | Calera, OK | 2,949 | $54,179 | 0.6% | |
| 32 | Hinton, OK | 4,886 | $61,622 | 3.8% | |
| 33 | Central High, OK | 1,572 | $73,750 | 5.8% | |
| 34 | Mangum, OK | 2,759 | $56,875 | 8.1% | |
| 35 | Cleora, OK | 1,449 | $82,614 | 6.9% | |
| 36 | Grandview, OK | 1,262 | $73,867 | 0.0% | |
| 37 | Waukomis, OK | 1,070 | $59,323 | 4.1% | |
| 38 | Mcloud, OK | 4,424 | $64,167 | 3.8% | |
| 39 | Caddo, OK | 1,075 | $49,250 | 2.4% | |
| 40 | Pawhuska, OK | 2,984 | $48,625 | 1.0% | |
| 41 | Hennessey, OK | 2,603 | $54,185 | 3.2% | |
| 42 | Marlow, OK | 4,423 | $53,932 | 3.6% | |
| 43 | Newkirk, OK | 2,024 | $53,125 | 4.2% | |
| 44 | Boise City, OK | 1,218 | $49,224 | 0.0% | |
| 45 | Geronimo, OK | 1,161 | $64,250 | 7.2% | |
| 46 | Cleveland, OK | 3,208 | $53,125 | 3.9% | |
| 47 | Laverne, OK | 1,050 | $56,250 | 3.3% | |
| 48 | Nicoma Park, OK | 2,512 | $66,250 | 3.4% | |
| 49 | Oakhurst, OK | 1,970 | $61,500 | 6.4% | |
| 50 | Minco, OK | 1,540 | $60,114 | 4.2% | |
| 51 | Walters, OK | 2,173 | $50,875 | 1.8% | |
| 52 | Snyder, OK | 1,353 | $42,083 | 1.2% | |
| 53 | Tonkawa, OK | 3,018 | $57,711 | 6.2% | |
| 54 | Gore, OK | 1,187 | $70,714 | 9.6% | |
| 55 | Medford, OK | 1,014 | $61,477 | 2.1% | |
| 56 | Morris, OK | 1,557 | $56,082 | 6.4% | |
| 57 | Mannford, OK | 3,278 | $59,831 | 4.8% | |
| 58 | Fairview, OK | 2,699 | $52,500 | 0.9% | |
| 59 | Mooreland, OK | 1,294 | $51,042 | 1.3% | |
| 60 | Slaughterville, OK | 4,214 | $76,759 | 6.1% | |
| 61 | Spencer, OK | 3,942 | $57,550 | 9.8% | |
| 62 | Wynnewood, OK | 1,705 | $43,571 | 2.4% | |
| 63 | Pocola, OK | 4,359 | $48,333 | 2.9% | |
| 64 | Inola, OK | 1,863 | $60,500 | 8.1% | |
| 65 | Cherokee, OK | 1,319 | $55,417 | 8.3% | |
| 66 | Shattuck, OK | 1,185 | $41,875 | 6.5% | |
| 67 | Crescent, OK | 1,567 | $53,864 | 5.3% | |
| 68 | Longtown, OK | 2,836 | $57,655 | 4.1% | |
| 69 | Roland, OK | 3,527 | $50,563 | 1.7% | |
| 70 | Kellyville, OK | 1,088 | $46,827 | 2.0% | |
| 71 | Lindsay, OK | 2,852 | $53,424 | 5.6% | |
| 72 | Fairland, OK | 1,234 | $42,083 | 2.8% | |
| 73 | Maysville, OK | 1,366 | $58,462 | 2.1% | |
| 74 | Pink, OK | 2,214 | $71,139 | 4.2% | |
| 75 | Marietta, OK | 2,837 | $48,300 | 2.7% | |
| 76 | Helena, OK | 1,487 | $64,286 | 10.4% | |
| 77 | Texanna, OK | 2,446 | $54,342 | 2.9% | |
| 78 | Perkins, OK | 3,229 | $43,913 | 6.7% | |
| 79 | Pawnee, OK | 1,887 | $42,148 | 6.0% | |
| 80 | Thomas, OK | 1,255 | $57,813 | 6.9% | |
| 81 | Broken Bow, OK | 4,215 | $50,744 | 0.0% | |
| 82 | Frederick, OK | 3,460 | $45,459 | 3.2% | |
| 83 | Bray, OK | 1,002 | $75,313 | 5.3% | |
| 84 | Stroud, OK | 2,771 | $54,519 | 7.7% | |
| 85 | Krebs, OK | 2,031 | $48,452 | 3.0% | |
| 86 | Dewey, OK | 3,388 | $42,940 | 1.6% | |
| 87 | Mounds, OK | 1,031 | $38,750 | 2.4% | |
| 88 | Woodall, OK | 1,112 | $55,313 | 7.0% | |
| 89 | Atoka, OK | 2,918 | $42,169 | 3.0% | |
| 90 | Okeene, OK | 1,218 | $49,650 | 8.6% | |
| 91 | Stigler, OK | 2,702 | $40,917 | 9.1% | |
| 92 | Dibble, OK | 1,244 | $77,321 | 7.8% | |
| 93 | Muldrow, OK | 3,292 | $46,667 | 4.1% | |
| 94 | Chandler, OK | 2,893 | $48,607 | 4.6% | |
| 95 | Bristow, OK | 4,261 | $40,000 | 3.7% | |
| 96 | Kingston, OK | 1,918 | $49,010 | 4.1% | |
| 97 | Tishomingo, OK | 3,097 | $40,536 | 8.2% | |
| 98 | Prague, OK | 1,999 | $46,944 | 4.8% | |
| 99 | Park Hill, OK | 3,092 | $49,583 | 5.2% | |
| 100 | Eufaula, OK | 2,783 | $38,594 | 3.0% |

