Not only is everything ‘Okie’ dokie in Oklahoma, the Sooner State has some of the best cities in the country.
The appreciation for the blood, sweat, and tears of the Sooners is very evident in Oklahoma’s best places to live. There’s a reason Garth Brooks lives in Tulsa, and Gwen Stefani is willing to drop everything and live with Blake Shelton in Tishomingo.
According to Census, FBI, and Zillow data, the Oklahoma cities that made our list have some of the highest incomes, expensive homes, and most educated residents. In total, we anlayzed 70 cities over 5,000 people using Saturday Night Science.
Here are the standout Sooner cities.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Table | Map | Methodology | Summary
What’s the best place to live in Oklahoma for 2024? The best place to live in Oklahoma is Jenks based on the most recent Census, FBI, and Zillow data.
Look below for a list of Oklahoma’s best cities that gave Jenks a run for its money. And if you are still looking for your favorite city, head to the bottom.
For more reading, check out:
The 10 Best Places To Live In Oklahoma For 2024
| Stat | Jenks | Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,872 | 3,970,497 |
| Rank Last Year | 1 | – |
| Median Home Value | $325,075 | $198,107 |
| Median Income | $101,767 | $61,364 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% | 4.9% |
| Crime Per Capita | 0.0131 | 0.0317 |
More on Jenks: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Jenks, a city of 25,872 located just south of Tulsa, comes in as HomeSnacks’ best place to live in Oklahoma for the second year running. Jenks is a place with small-town charm and big-city amenities. It’s home to the Oklahoma Aquarium, a big hit with local families and Riverwalk Crossing, a Tulsa-bordering district where you’ll find a wide range of eclectic shops, dining, outlook areas, and countless events. Jenks is also known for its ample antiquing opportunities.
Jenks has top-notch schools, safe streets, and low rates of unemployment and poverty. Not to mention that Jenks residents are quite smart; around 45% of folks have a bachelor’s degree and 15% have a master’s degree or higher to boot. This helps explain why Jenks has the best-paid populace in Oklahoma, with a typical household bringing in around $101,767/year. The cost of living in Jenks is about 15% higher than the Oklahoma average, with housing costs outstripping the state by 60%. The median home price in Jenks is the 2nd highest in Oklahoma at $325,075 and rent goes for around $1,392/month. People don’t seem to mind the cost, though, considering Jenks is also Oklahoma’s fastest-growing city, adding a whopping 40% to its ranks since 2010.
| Stat | Bixby | Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 28,731 | 3,970,497 |
| Rank Last Year | 2 | – |
| Median Home Value | $306,678 | $198,107 |
| Median Income | $93,765 | $61,364 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | 4.9% |
| Crime Per Capita | 0.0125 | 0.0317 |
More on Bixby: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Another Tulsa suburb located just south of Jenks, Bixby offers a similar mix of abundant attractions and opportunities combined with a tight-knit community. Fishing, picnicking, and hiking can all be found at Lake Bixhoma, while an amphitheater, butterfly garden, and 30+ acres of gorgeously-landscaped trees and flowering pants make for a peaceful sanctuary at Washington Irving Memorial Park & Arboretum. And if you’re looking for the freshest produce in town, look no further than Gibson Gardens.
Bixby’s population has grown by 33% in the last decade and it’s not hard to see why. GreatSchools gave Bixby’s public schools and an average score of 9.5/10, and Bixby High was awarded a College Success Award. Poverty and unemployment rates both rank as the 17th lowest in Oklahoma, while the rate of residents with health insurance is the 4th highest in the state. Homes may be the 4th priciest in Oklahoma, but residents also enjoy the 4th highest median household income statewide at $93,765/year.
| Stat | Owasso | Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 38,134 | 3,970,497 |
| Rank Last Year | 4 | – |
| Median Home Value | $294,323 | $198,107 |
| Median Income | $79,183 | $61,364 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6% | 4.9% |
| Crime Per Capita | 0.0176 | 0.0317 |
More on Owasso: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
A northern suburb of Tulsa, Owasso ranks as the 3rd best place to live in Oklahoma. Being just 20 minutes from Tulsa’s downtown really opens up your entertainment options. Music-enthusiasts have the choice between the Jazz Hall of Fame and the Woody Guthrie Center that honors the folk legend. Visual artists have a feast for the eyes as the gorgeous Philbrook Museum of Art and everyone can enjoy the Gathering Place, America’s best new attraction of 2019, according to USA Today’s Readers’ Choice awards.
Owasso’s public schools consistently beat out the statewide average in test scores and graduation rates by more than 10%, and GreatSchools awarded Owasso’s district an average score of 9/10. Poverty and unemployment are both low in Owasso, and although it’s the most dangerous spot on this list, the crime rate is still 25% below the statewide average. Owasso’s residents have the 13th highest median household income in the state at $79,183/year. It’s quite easy to see why the city’s grown by more than 30% in the last decade.
| Stat | Edmond | Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 94,503 | 3,970,497 |
| Rank Last Year | 3 | – |
| Median Home Value | $334,356 | $198,107 |
| Median Income | $96,389 | $61,364 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.5% | 4.9% |
| Crime Per Capita | 0.0181 | 0.0317 |
More on Edmond: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Located just north of Oklahoma City, Edmond ranks as the 4th best place to call home in Oklahoma. Art-lined streets, the regular shows put on at the Armstrong Auditorium, and the annual Downtown Edmond Arts Festival all scream that Edmond is a city with an eye for aesthetic quality. As for the outdoor-inclined, Edmond’s countless green spaces in town, first-class fishing at Arcadia Lake, and championship golf courses are sure to be a source of endless delight.
If you’re looking for one of the premier public school districts in the state, you’ve found it in Edmond. GreatSchools gave Edmond’s district a 9.5 average score (out of 30+ schools, mind you) and several of those schools have received National Blue Ribbon Awards. The high school dropout rate in Edmond is the lowest in Oklahoma, over half the adult population has a college degree, and nearly a quarter of folks have a master’s, PhD, or professional degree. This helps explain why Edmond’s residents enjoy the 3rd highest median household income in the state at $96,389/year.
| Stat | Verdigris | Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,308 | 3,970,497 |
| Rank Last Year | 5 | – |
| Median Home Value | $232,151 | $198,107 |
| Median Income | $83,281 | $61,364 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.2% | 4.9% |
| Crime Per Capita | 0.0049 | 0.0317 |
More on Verdigris: Data | Crime | Real Estate
Verdigris, located in Rogers County, Oklahoma, is known for its low cost of living and is ranked as the number 5 best place to live in the state. With a median home price of $232,151, you can enjoy affordable housing options. The town offers a variety of attractions and activities, making it an ideal place to live.
Verdigris is situated in the Tulsa metropolitan area, providing easy access to amenities and employment opportunities. The town is surrounded by natural beauty, with the Verdigris River nearby, offering scenic views and recreational activities such as fishing and boating. Verdigris is conveniently located along former State Highway 66, allowing residents to explore other parts of the state easily.
| Stat | Mustang | Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 20,518 | 3,970,497 |
| Rank Last Year | 6 | – |
| Median Home Value | $264,097 | $198,107 |
| Median Income | $84,162 | $61,364 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1% | 4.9% |
| Crime Per Capita | 0.0117 | 0.0317 |
More on Mustang: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
A rapidly-growing bedroom community of OKC, Mustang comes in as our 6th best place in Oklahoma for 2024. Good shopping, great schools, and a warm small-town feel all contribute to Mustang’s 25% growth since 2010. Most Mustang residents head into Oklahoma City when they get the itch for the lights of the big city or a bit of culture. Seeing as there are museums for both cowboys and art, anyone should be able to have an enjoyable day of self-education a short day-trip from Mustang. All part of why Mustang ranked so highly on our coverage of the cities for families in Oklahoma.
In all of Oklahoma, Mustang has the 8th lowest crime rate, 10th lowest poverty rate, and 3rd highest rate of residents with health insurance. Oh, and some of the cheapest homes of places on this list, with a median price tag of $264,097.
| Stat | Broken Arrow | Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 114,237 | 3,970,497 |
| Rank Last Year | 8 | – |
| Median Home Value | $265,688 | $198,107 |
| Median Income | $82,547 | $61,364 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3% | 4.9% |
| Crime Per Capita | 0.0183 | 0.0317 |
More on Broken Arrow: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Oklahoma’s fourth biggest city and a neighbor of Tulsa, Broken Arrow ranks as the 7th best place to call home in the Sooner State. If you’re an angler, chances are we won’t have to try very hard to convince you Broken Arrow is great; the city boasts a massive 110,000 square-foot Bass Pro Shop. For other shoppers, Broken Arrow’s Rose District has more boutiques than you could shake a stem at. Those looking to catch a Broadway Show will find themselves at the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center, while those looking to get a bit of peace from the bigger city will end up in Ray Harral Nature Park.
Homes in Broken Arrow go for around $265,688 and you can find a nice spot to rent for $1,183/month. While that means Broken Arrow’s housing is roughly 30% higher than the statewide average, the cost of living in other categories is basically on par with the statewide average.
| Stat | Newcastle | Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,508 | 3,970,497 |
| Rank Last Year | 10 | – |
| Median Home Value | $283,796 | $198,107 |
| Median Income | $90,469 | $61,364 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% | 4.9% |
| Crime Per Capita | 0.0174 | 0.0317 |
More on Newcastle: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Newcastle is an Oklahoma City suburb located about 20 miles south off of Route 62 and I-44. The town of 11,508 people has a ton going for it across all quality of life metrics. The economy is super strong as the city ranks 9th for unemployment and 5th for incomes per the most recent Census data. Additionally, it’s one of the safest cities in the Sooner State per the most recent FBI data.
The Newcastle Public Schools rank in the top 20% of Oklahoma school districts per several sources including Niche and PublicSchoolReview. And like most Oklahoma towns, there’s plenty to do outside. From TG Farm to Veteran’s Park there is something to do in town with the family. And you can stop in the Boomarang Diner anytime of the day for a burger, pancakes, or to see your neighbors.
| Stat | Blanchard | Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,708 | 3,970,497 |
| Rank Last Year | 14 | – |
| Median Home Value | $285,528 | $198,107 |
| Median Income | $86,964 | $61,364 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% | 4.9% |
| Crime Per Capita | 0.0080 | 0.0317 |
More on Blanchard: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
A southern suburb of Oklahoma City, Blanchard is the oldest city on this list, with a median age of 40. People of every age enjoy the downtown business district, great parks, and many events, though. Blanchard hosts the May Daze Festival, a celebration complete with live entertainment, a carnival, and endless food, games, and shopping. And the annual Blanchard Bluegrass Festival pulls in crowds from all around.
Blanchard is one of the safest places in Oklahoma, with a crime rate 45% below the national average. The unemployment rate here is a measly 5.3%, so if you’re looking for a job here, it should be a piece of cake. Just want to try out Blanchard without committing to a $285,528 mortgage? You’re in luck, because at $920/month, rent in Blanchard is 40% cheaper than the average rent in Oklahoma.
| Stat | Choctaw | Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,154 | 3,970,497 |
| Rank Last Year | 7 | – |
| Median Home Value | $281,479 | $198,107 |
| Median Income | $90,241 | $61,364 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.5% | 4.9% |
| Crime Per Capita | 0.0145 | 0.0317 |
More on Choctaw: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Choctaw sits just to the east of Oklahoma City, part of the furthest rim of communities surrounding the state’s largest city. More than a typical suburb, though, Choctaw is actually the oldest chartered community in what was once known as Oklahoma Territory. It still provides a major draw for modern-day settlers, existing as the number 10 best place to live in Sooner State.
A strong economy and top-notch educational opportunities make Choctaw an excellent place to raise a family. The area has a median income of $90,241, the 6th best figure in the state. The unemployment rate is healthy as well, coming in at 2.5%. The median home value in the area hovers at $281,479. The schools in the area are amazing, scoring a 9/10 on Great Schools.
Despite being over 100 years old, Choctaw didn’t become a noteworthy town until the middle of the 20th century. As of the 1960 census, it had just 623 people. Now it sports a population of 12,154 and provides excellent access to Oklahoma’s largest population areas. A half-hour drive will take you to the center of Oklahoma City. Looking further out, Tulsa lies just an hour and a half down I-44.
Mapping The Best And Worst Places To Live in Oklahoma
Best Places To Live In Oklahoma Size Requirement
Before we even started to collect data on the best places to live in Oklahoma, we had to answer a tough question: Is it fair to pit cities with populations over 100,000 against places with a population of 18?
We firmly decided no, that just isn’t fair.
So, to create our ranking, we broke the best places to live into three tiers:
- Cities — Populations over 5,000
- Towns — Populations between 1,000 and 5,000
- Small Towns — Populations below 1,000
This filter left 70 cities, 168 towns, and 405 small towns.
We then decided no matter how much anyone loves their town, the best cities to live in Oklahoma have more of everything, and therefore, you need over 5,000 people to truly be ‘the best.’
Methodology: How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In Oklahoma
Now that we had our set of the best possible cities, it was time to rank them using Saturday Night Science.
We ranked each place in Oklahoma across a number of criteria from one to 70, with one being the best.
We then took the average rank across all criteria, crowning the city posting the lowest overall score, the “Best Place To Live In Oklahoma.”
The criteria we looked to determine the best places were:
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Population Density (Higher is better)
- Unemployment Rate
- Commute Time
- Crime
- Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty rates
Sources of criteria include the New Census Data, FBI Crime Data, and Zillow. We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking Oklahoma’s best places to live.
If your city or town isn’t among the top 10, jump down to the bottom of the post to see a detailed chart of the best places in Oklahoma. Otherwise, buckle up for a ride down good living lane with Jenks at the end of the cul-de-sac.
Summary: The Best Places In Oklahoma
If you’re looking at areas in Oklahoma with the best economic situations, where there’s lower than average crime, and a lot to do, this is an accurate list.
The best places to live in Oklahoma are Jenks, Bixby, Owasso, Edmond, Verdigris, Mustang, Broken Arrow, Newcastle, Blanchard, and Choctaw.
Jenks made a strong showing to take in the overall number one spot for the best place to live in Oklahoma for 2024.
If you’re curious enough, here are the worst places to live in Oklahoma according to the data:
- Okmulgee (Pop. 11,366)
- Sallisaw (Pop. 8,524)
- Poteau (Pop. 8,852)
For more Oklahoma reading, check out:
- Cheapest Places To Live In Oklahoma
- Most Dangerous Cities In Oklahoma
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Oklahoma
- Best Places To Retire In Oklahoma
- Richest Cities In Oklahoma
- Safest Places In Oklahoma
- Worst Places To Live In Oklahoma
Best Places To Live In Oklahoma Table
| Rank | City | Population | Unemployment Rate | Home Value | Median Income | Rent | Crime Per Capita |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jenks | 25,872 | 4.1% | $325,075 | $101,767 | $1,392 | 0.0131 |
| 2 | Bixby | 28,731 | 3.6% | $306,678 | $93,765 | $1,224 | 0.0125 |
| 3 | Owasso | 38,134 | 4.6% | $294,323 | $79,183 | $1,180 | 0.0176 |
| 4 | Edmond | 94,503 | 3.5% | $334,356 | $96,389 | $1,257 | 0.0181 |
| 5 | Verdigris | 5,308 | 2.2% | $232,151 | $83,281 | $1,236 | 0.0049 |
| 6 | Mustang | 20,518 | 4.1% | $264,097 | $84,162 | $1,147 | 0.0117 |
| 7 | Broken Arrow | 114,237 | 4.3% | $265,688 | $82,547 | $1,183 | 0.0183 |
| 8 | Newcastle | 11,508 | 3.1% | $283,796 | $90,469 | $947 | 0.0174 |
| 9 | Blanchard | 8,708 | 5.3% | $285,528 | $86,964 | $920 | 0.0080 |
| 10 | Choctaw | 12,154 | 2.5% | $281,479 | $90,241 | $1,091 | 0.0145 |
| 11 | Piedmont | 7,629 | 1.5% | $317,037 | $86,453 | $1,117 | 0.0059 |
| 12 | Tuttle | 7,533 | 4.4% | $299,487 | $98,393 | $810 | 0.0086 |
| 13 | Yukon | 24,198 | 4.0% | $255,618 | $75,865 | $1,036 | 0.0261 |
| 14 | Weatherford | 11,999 | 5.2% | $203,753 | $47,851 | $714 | 0.0132 |
| 15 | Moore | 62,685 | 4.1% | $207,451 | $73,285 | $1,208 | 0.0231 |
| 16 | Coweta | 9,903 | 5.3% | $246,248 | $57,166 | $848 | 0.0128 |
| 17 | Glenpool | 13,683 | 4.0% | $222,664 | $75,876 | $1,182 | 0.0278 |
| 18 | Collinsville | 8,073 | 8.2% | $261,886 | $76,866 | $1,101 | 0.0111 |
| 19 | Sapulpa | 22,030 | 3.3% | $183,005 | $62,168 | $979 | 0.0191 |
| 20 | Bartlesville | 37,314 | 4.1% | $166,447 | $58,230 | $892 | 0.0297 |
| 21 | Alva | 5,020 | 5.1% | $93,771 | $41,809 | $809 | 0.0102 |
| 22 | Sand Springs | 19,925 | 4.5% | $212,949 | $70,431 | $993 | 0.0415 |
| 23 | Claremore | 19,724 | 5.8% | $245,916 | $56,257 | $957 | 0.0246 |
| 24 | Bethany | 20,620 | 4.7% | $169,487 | $54,606 | $1,024 | 0.0220 |
| 25 | Harrah | 6,259 | 3.4% | $224,969 | $68,661 | $973 | 0.0208 |
| 26 | Noble | 7,168 | 3.4% | $184,737 | $84,029 | $1,040 | 0.0165 |
| 27 | Stillwater | 48,644 | 5.3% | $233,737 | $39,998 | $921 | 0.0222 |
| 28 | Grove | 7,012 | 1.4% | $265,341 | $56,469 | $841 | 0.0345 |
| 29 | Clinton | 8,499 | 0.0% | $97,279 | $62,368 | $850 | 0.0236 |
| 30 | Altus | 18,711 | 4.7% | $86,441 | $56,620 | $876 | 0.0174 |
| 31 | Guymon | 12,743 | 2.8% | $149,979 | $55,526 | $907 | 0.0122 |
| 32 | Lone Grove | 5,026 | 4.1% | $209,364 | $68,433 | $944 | 0.0133 |
| 33 | Norman | 127,701 | 5.8% | $241,585 | $62,849 | $1,004 | 0.0308 |
| 34 | Sulphur | 5,025 | 0.0% | $141,396 | $55,951 | $869 | 0.0163 |
| 35 | Tahlequah | 16,389 | 7.1% | $179,457 | $49,444 | $783 | 0.0165 |
| 36 | Guthrie | 10,872 | 2.4% | $218,592 | $55,405 | $871 | 0.0189 |
| 37 | Ada | 16,537 | 4.8% | $165,138 | $47,264 | $853 | 0.0267 |
| 38 | Cushing | 8,336 | 4.5% | $112,267 | $46,602 | $735 | 0.0269 |
| 39 | Catoosa | 7,680 | 5.6% | $195,064 | $67,143 | $998 | 0.0315 |
| 40 | Tulsa | 411,938 | 5.8% | $192,607 | $56,648 | $958 | 0.0518 |
| 41 | Lawton | 91,023 | 7.7% | $121,696 | $51,561 | $898 | 0.0293 |
| 42 | Purcell | 6,632 | 3.9% | $214,329 | $68,295 | $872 | 0.0315 |
| 43 | Enid | 50,961 | 4.7% | $116,791 | $60,790 | $861 | 0.0319 |
| 44 | Blackwell | 6,132 | 6.6% | $56,852 | $47,333 | $823 | 0.0215 |
| 45 | Duncan | 22,759 | 5.2% | $113,467 | $55,162 | $837 | 0.0236 |
| 46 | Chickasha | 16,231 | 5.7% | $126,753 | $55,136 | $853 | 0.0378 |
| 47 | Warr Acres | 10,424 | 3.4% | $170,961 | $54,221 | $899 | 0.0432 |
| 48 | El Reno | 17,474 | 6.4% | $158,475 | $49,988 | $848 | 0.0159 |
| 49 | Woodward | 12,067 | 6.3% | $123,155 | $54,864 | $829 | 0.0337 |
| 50 | Tecumseh | 6,326 | 4.2% | $119,271 | $53,729 | $781 | 0.0218 |
| 51 | Durant | 18,759 | 5.5% | $220,092 | $44,593 | $877 | 0.0336 |
| 52 | Vinita | 5,207 | 6.8% | $148,143 | $38,621 | $837 | 0.0244 |
| 53 | Miami | 12,995 | 3.3% | $105,612 | $44,010 | $790 | 0.0396 |
| 54 | McAlester | 18,110 | 8.0% | $142,233 | $46,875 | $850 | 0.0292 |
| 55 | Pryor Creek | 9,480 | 8.2% | $156,510 | $46,635 | $838 | 0.0322 |
| 56 | Ardmore | 24,784 | 5.2% | $139,851 | $49,408 | $914 | 0.0380 |
| 57 | Wagoner | 7,813 | 8.4% | $161,103 | $55,169 | $854 | 0.0325 |
| 58 | Shawnee | 31,391 | 6.8% | $141,120 | $50,695 | $861 | 0.0413 |
| 59 | Sayre | 5,459 | 12.3% | $103,167 | $45,859 | $721 | 0.0073 |
| 60 | Muskogee | 36,933 | 6.5% | $123,006 | $46,825 | $799 | 0.0446 |
| 61 | Holdenville | 5,900 | 7.7% | $51,182 | $38,232 | $601 | 0.0131 |
| 62 | Henryetta | 5,639 | 9.9% | $95,811 | $42,513 | $744 | 0.0211 |
| 63 | Hugo | 5,178 | 8.6% | $101,969 | $30,089 | $584 | 0.0301 |
| 64 | Pauls Valley | 6,031 | 3.1% | $126,578 | $45,400 | $774 | 0.0483 |
| 65 | Anadarko | 5,723 | 7.8% | $57,486 | $49,770 | $641 | 0.0498 |
| 66 | Seminole | 7,144 | 7.1% | $109,289 | $34,599 | $693 | 0.0241 |
| 67 | Idabel | 6,994 | 8.3% | $118,740 | $34,683 | $670 | 0.0436 |
| 68 | Okmulgee | 11,366 | 9.2% | $92,537 | $38,311 | $732 | 0.0344 |
| 69 | Sallisaw | 8,524 | 6.4% | $163,587 | $44,310 | $811 | 0.0449 |
| 70 | Poteau | 8,852 | 6.2% | $163,978 | $47,782 | $790 | 0.0438 |