The 10 Best Small Towns In Oklahoma For 2026


The best small towns in Oklahoma are Nichols Hills and Okarche for 2026 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: April 18, 2026

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 2026

  1. Nichols Hills
  2. Okarche
  3. Justice
  4. McCord
  5. Fort Gibson
  6. Buffalo
  7. Cashion
  8. Dickson
  9. Perry
  10. Fletcher
  11. Goodwell
  12. Goldsby
  13. Central High
  14. Jones
  15. Sulphur

Best Small Towns To Live In Oklahoma Map

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:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Oklahoma For 2026

1. Nichols Hills

Nichols Hills, OK

Source: Wikipedia User Popsiclecrawfish | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 3,843
Median Income: $207,567 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $959,117 (1st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.3%

2. Okarche

Overall SnackAbility

8.5
/10

Population: 1,293
Median Income: $94,063 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $252,542 (15th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.8%

3. Justice

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,530
Median Income: $97,861 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $265,598 (12th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.7%

4. Mccord

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,553
Median Income: $83,125 (10th Best)
Median Home Value: $223,336 (27th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%

5. Fort Gibson

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,808
Median Income: $68,378 (28th Best)
Median Home Value: $234,882 (21st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.0%

6. Buffalo

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,092
Median Income: $72,065 (24th Best)
Median Home Value: $58,228 (152nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.5%

7. Cashion

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 1,148
Median Income: $96,970 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $328,714 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%

8. Dickson

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,231
Median Income: $81,250 (12th Best)
Median Home Value: $244,864 (16th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.2%

9. Perry

Perry, OK

Source: Wikipedia User Wesley Fryer from Edmond, Oklahoma | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 4,452
Median Income: $53,587 (71st Best)
Median Home Value: $132,584 (95th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.4%

10. Fletcher

Overall SnackAbility

/10

Population: 1,309
Median Income: $71,458 (26th Best)
Median Home Value: $211,244 (31st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.6%

11. Goodwell

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,122
Median Income: $88,424 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $175,776 (67th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.1%

12. Goldsby

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,085
Median Income: $103,333 (3rd Best)
Median Home Value: $421,057 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%

13. Central High

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,489
Median Income: $75,435 (18th Best)
Median Home Value: $273,184 (11th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.4%

14. Jones

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 3,053
Median Income: $77,371 (15th Best)
Median Home Value: $350,101 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.5%

15. Sulphur

Sulphur, OK

Source: Wikipedia User duggar11 | CC BY 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,874
Median Income: $66,957 (29th Best)
Median Home Value: $170,580 (71st Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.5%

Best States In America

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 2020-2024 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 – 156 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 156, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Oklahoma. Top of that list — Nichols Hills.

This is our eleventh 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, Justice, McCord, Fort Gibson, Buffalo, Cashion, Dickson, Perry, and Fletcher.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in Oklahoma:

  1. Wetumka
  2. Wewoka
  3. Heavener

For more Oklahoma reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In Oklahoma

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Nichols Hills, OK 3,843 $207,567 0.3%
2 Okarche, OK 1,293 $94,063 0.8%
3 Justice, OK 1,530 $97,861 2.7%
4 Mccord, OK 1,553 $83,125 2.6%
5 Fort Gibson, OK 3,808 $68,378 4.0%
6 Buffalo, OK 1,092 $72,065 1.5%
7 Cashion, OK 1,148 $96,970 1.2%
8 Dickson, OK 1,231 $81,250 1.2%
9 Perry, OK 4,452 $53,587 1.4%
10 Fletcher, OK 1,309 $71,458 4.6%
11 Goodwell, OK 1,122 $88,424 6.1%
12 Goldsby, OK 3,085 $103,333 2.4%
13 Central High, OK 1,489 $75,435 2.4%
14 Jones, OK 3,053 $77,371 2.5%
15 Sulphur, OK 4,874 $66,957 1.5%
16 Elgin, OK 3,608 $96,250 7.2%
17 Calera, OK 3,007 $64,449 1.0%
18 Byng, OK 1,316 $75,625 5.5%
19 Kiefer, OK 2,639 $83,317 3.0%
20 Bethel Acres, OK 3,165 $75,909 2.3%
21 Beaver, OK 1,586 $56,078 0.9%
22 Luther, OK 1,627 $51,827 1.7%
23 Cache, OK 3,074 $65,536 9.5%
24 New Cordell, OK 2,740 $73,107 4.4%
25 Caddo, OK 1,109 $51,923 1.9%
26 Waukomis, OK 1,076 $61,339 1.2%
27 Oologah, OK 1,774 $79,886 7.6%
28 Thomas, OK 1,170 $62,500 3.5%
29 Union City, OK 1,722 $105,833 2.9%
30 Cleora, OK 1,477 $82,321 6.0%
31 Chouteau, OK 2,129 $60,208 8.3%
32 Grandview, OK 1,251 $73,688 0.0%
33 Geronimo, OK 1,155 $73,611 7.5%
34 North Enid, OK 1,136 $79,554 6.1%
35 Mooreland, OK 1,330 $54,728 0.0%
36 Alva, OK 4,982 $40,709 4.9%
37 Hennessey, OK 2,567 $70,181 3.0%
38 Morris, OK 1,555 $58,716 4.3%
39 Newkirk, OK 2,043 $52,639 3.5%
40 Mcloud, OK 4,425 $63,469 1.5%
41 Hinton, OK 4,909 $65,278 2.0%
42 Tonkawa, OK 3,014 $58,767 4.9%
43 Cleveland, OK 3,225 $55,357 4.6%
44 Hydro, OK 1,157 $40,341 6.6%
45 Minco, OK 1,607 $61,000 4.8%
46 Marlow, OK 4,451 $56,655 3.0%
47 Spencer, OK 3,928 $59,861 8.7%
48 Mannford, OK 3,269 $60,521 5.8%
49 Cherokee, OK 1,509 $58,860 6.1%
50 Apache, OK 1,034 $59,375 2.0%
51 Nicoma Park, OK 2,566 $62,447 3.5%
52 Pocola, OK 4,423 $50,545 2.9%
53 Hooker, OK 1,786 $48,571 6.3%
54 Pawhuska, OK 2,930 $46,298 3.0%
55 Mangum, OK 2,755 $49,470 11.9%
56 Gore, OK 1,114 $63,036 8.0%
57 Boise City, OK 1,125 $43,393 0.0%
58 Kellyville, OK 1,047 $53,393 2.0%
59 Inola, OK 2,011 $58,558 8.0%
60 Medford, OK 1,016 $48,942 2.7%
61 Granite, OK 1,650 $60,000 5.0%
62 Fairview, OK 2,687 $54,688 3.6%
63 Slaughterville, OK 4,251 $72,944 6.3%
64 Pawnee, OK 1,886 $41,471 2.8%
65 Kingston, OK 1,742 $45,536 2.2%
66 Atoka, OK 2,894 $44,087 2.3%
67 Tyrone, OK 1,082 $2,499 10.8%
68 Broken Bow, OK 4,226 $39,895 1.6%
69 Shattuck, OK 1,212 $54,868 8.3%
70 Walters, OK 2,091 $54,425 3.6%
71 Crescent, OK 1,527 $62,813 4.8%
72 Wynnewood, OK 1,756 $40,156 1.6%
73 Roland, OK 3,687 $51,754 3.0%
74 Fairland, OK 1,207 $42,625 5.0%
75 Helena, OK 1,557 $61,500 8.7%
76 Lindsay, OK 2,884 $52,000 6.1%
77 Prague, OK 2,155 $50,893 3.6%
78 Krebs, OK 2,119 $45,893 3.4%
79 Rush Springs, OK 1,299 $45,125 3.7%
80 Locust Grove, OK 1,453 $49,398 3.5%
81 Okeene, OK 1,212 $57,917 10.5%
82 Maysville, OK 1,399 $60,931 2.0%
83 Pink, OK 2,206 $72,396 5.1%
84 Longtown, OK 2,716 $56,333 5.1%
85 Marietta, OK 2,865 $51,838 4.9%
86 Dewey, OK 3,412 $42,695 4.7%
87 Snyder, OK 1,297 $41,099 2.6%
88 Oakhurst, OK 2,175 $57,222 5.8%
89 Okemah, OK 3,063 $32,386 1.5%
90 Texanna, OK 2,401 $50,789 5.2%
91 Copeland, OK 1,401 $57,558 4.5%
92 Carnegie, OK 1,521 $43,839 5.0%
93 Perkins, OK 3,262 $35,456 4.2%
94 Frederick, OK 3,445 $44,595 5.0%
95 Meeker, OK 1,172 $41,190 4.1%
96 Davis, OK 2,814 $51,875 5.6%
97 Muldrow, OK 3,309 $45,067 6.2%
98 Sperry, OK 1,066 $49,583 5.1%
99 Madill, OK 4,004 $47,522 6.4%
100 Wilson, OK 1,725 $60,625 2.9%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns, Rankings