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 68 cities over 5,000 people using Saturday Night Science.
Here are the standout Sooner cities.
$111,004 median income · $352,171 median home · #1 best place in Oklahoma
Located in
Tulsa County, Oklahoma
Jenks, a city of 27,102 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 $111,004/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 $352,171 and rent goes for around $1,602/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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$104,404 median income · $331,056 median home · #2 best place in Oklahoma
Located in
Wagoner County, Oklahoma
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 18th lowest in Oklahoma, while the rate of residents with health insurance is the 9th highest in the state. Homes may be the 4th priciest in Oklahoma, but residents also enjoy the 3rd highest median household income statewide at $104,404/year.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$103,183 median income · $353,954 median home · #3 best place in Oklahoma
Located in
Oklahoma County, Oklahoma
Located just north of Oklahoma City, Edmond ranks as the 3rd 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 5th highest median household income in the state at $103,183/year.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$79,036 median income · $315,428 median home · #4 best place in Oklahoma
Located in
Tulsa County, Oklahoma
A northern suburb of Tulsa, Owasso ranks as the 4th 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 17th highest median household income in the state at $79,036/year. It’s quite easy to see why the city’s grown by more than 30% in the last decade.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$84,259 median income · $252,799 median home · #5 best place in Oklahoma
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 $252,799, 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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$87,844 median income · $277,553 median home · #6 best place in Oklahoma
Located in
Canadian County, Oklahoma
A rapidly-growing bedroom community of OKC, Mustang comes in as our 6th best place in Oklahoma for 2026. 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 7th lowest crime rate, 10th lowest poverty rate, and 5th 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 $277,553.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$86,765 median income · $286,846 median home · #7 best place in Oklahoma
Located in
Wagoner County, Oklahoma
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 $286,846 and you can find a nice spot to rent for $1,320/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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$93,398 median income · $287,727 median home · #8 best place in Oklahoma
Located in
McClain County, Oklahoma
Newcastle is an Oklahoma City suburb located about 20 miles south off of Route 62 and I-44. The town of 13,001 people has a ton going for it across all quality of life metrics. The economy is super strong as the city ranks 8th for unemployment and 7th 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.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$90,570 median income · $282,492 median home · #9 best place in Oklahoma
Located in
Tulsa County, Oklahoma
Ranked 9th on our list of the best places to live in Oklahoma, Collinsville sits just northeast of Tulsa in Tulsa County. Homes here run an average of $282,492, and with a median household income of $90,570.
The crime is low and the unemployment rate sits at a measly 4.4%. Collinsville Public Schools pull in families with kids, which explains the 35 median age.
For a small Oklahoma town, Collinsville is one of the best.
Data | Crime | Cost of living | Movers
$75,273 median income · $273,583 median home · #10 best place in Oklahoma
Located in
Canadian County, Oklahoma
Yukon sits just west of Oklahoma City, and for 25,529 Oklahoma residents looking for small-town rhythm without giving up a real paycheck, it lands at number 10 on our list of best places to live in Oklahoma. A median household income of $75,273 and a poverty rate of only 8.8% tell a pretty comfortable story.
The community leans hard into its identity, with annual gatherings like the Chisholm Trail Festival and Concerts in the Park filling the calendar and the kind of neighborhood feel that keeps people rooted. A 23-minute average commute to OKC means Yukon residents get city paychecks without city prices, and homes here run a median of $273,583.
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
Oklahoma statewide median: 5.0%
On the map
Mapping The Best And Worst Places To Live in Oklahoma
Saturday Night Science
Methodology: How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In Oklahoma
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
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.’
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 68, 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 2026. This report is our eleventh 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.
The full plate
Best Places To Live In Oklahoma Table
Click any column to sort. Search by city name.
| Rank | City | Best Score | Population | Unemployment Rate | Home Value | Median Income | Rent | Total Crime /100k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jenks | 12.55 | 27,102 | 2.6% | $352,171 | $111,004 | 1,350 | |
| 2 | Bixby | 15.65 | 30,155 | 3.7% | $331,056 | $104,404 | 892 | |
| 3 | Edmond | 15.90 | 96,825 | 3.3% | $353,954 | $103,183 | 1,560 | |
| 4 | Owasso | 16.35 | 40,151 | 5.4% | $315,428 | $79,036 | 1,609 | |
| 5 | Verdigris | 17.35 | 5,637 | 2.3% | $252,799 | $84,259 | 532 | |
| 6 | Mustang | 18.25 | 22,192 | 5.7% | $277,553 | $87,844 | 888 | |
| 7 | Broken Arrow | 18.35 | 118,180 | 4.2% | $286,846 | $86,765 | 1,458 | |
| 8 | Newcastle | 19.05 | 13,001 | 2.8% | $287,727 | $93,398 | 1,115 | |
| 9 | Collinsville | 20.35 | 8,878 | 4.4% | $282,492 | $90,570 | 924 | |
| 10 | Yukon | 20.55 | 25,529 | 4.0% | $273,583 | $75,273 | 1,449 | |
| 11 | Tuttle | 21.05 | 8,040 | 4.8% | $326,451 | $103,994 | 535 | |
| 12 | Choctaw | 21.35 | 12,303 | 3.1% | $302,582 | $100,574 | 1,374 | |
| 13 | Harrah | 23.25 | 6,684 | 3.3% | $244,396 | $84,375 | 1,287 | |
| 14 | Glenpool | 23.35 | 14,151 | 3.3% | $242,874 | $79,525 | 1,647 | |
| 15 | Weatherford | 23.50 | 12,004 | 6.2% | $232,157 | $54,704 | 450 | |
| 16 | Piedmont | 23.65 | 8,342 | 3.3% | $340,623 | $104,441 | 348 | |
| 17 | Coweta | 23.95 | 10,433 | 4.0% | $268,321 | $67,519 | 776 | |
| 18 | Moore | 24.25 | 63,420 | 4.7% | $222,549 | $80,420 | 1,708 | |
| 19 | Blanchard | 25.20 | 9,215 | 10.1% | $319,913 | $91,473 | 857 | |
| 20 | Sapulpa | 25.75 | 22,570 | 3.2% | $212,650 | $63,817 | 1,630 | |
| 21 | Guymon | 26.40 | 12,539 | 3.2% | $170,436 | $60,075 | 1,172 | |
| 22 | Stillwater | 27.95 | 49,269 | 6.4% | $263,398 | $43,700 | 1,756 | |
| 23 | Sand Springs | 28.15 | 20,117 | 5.9% | $236,865 | $75,645 | 3,007 | |
| 24 | Bartlesville | 28.45 | 37,878 | 4.4% | $184,330 | $58,869 | 2,524 | |
| 25 | Claremore | 29.25 | 20,166 | 5.9% | $257,872 | $58,685 | 1,959 | |
| 26 | Kingfisher | 29.30 | 5,026 | 2.1% | $223,159 | $64,271 | 2,248 | |
| 27 | Grove | 29.90 | 7,176 | 2.1% | $292,727 | $58,941 | 3,442 | |
| 28 | Norman | 31.40 | 129,672 | 5.7% | $262,839 | $67,704 | 2,546 | |
| 29 | Lone Grove | 31.60 | 5,125 | 1.9% | $218,357 | $74,265 | 1,151 | |
| 30 | Noble | 31.80 | 7,493 | 1.2% | $208,255 | $81,739 | 1,321 | |
| 31 | Catoosa | 32.25 | 7,496 | 5.9% | $228,732 | $72,467 | 1,761 | |
| 32 | Clinton | 35.40 | 8,388 | 2.0% | $114,142 | $58,207 | 1,931 | |
| 33 | Purcell | 35.60 | 6,803 | 4.0% | $225,542 | $63,457 | 2,352 | |
| 34 | Guthrie | 36.10 | 11,243 | 5.6% | $249,714 | $53,457 | 1,895 | |
| 35 | Bethany | 36.80 | 20,560 | 6.5% | $178,150 | $56,591 | 1,712 | |
| 36 | Altus | 37.30 | 18,646 | 6.5% | $106,431 | $55,295 | 1,732 | |
| 37 | Blackwell | 37.35 | 6,042 | 4.3% | $63,903 | $53,435 | 2,598 | |
| 38 | Tahlequah | 37.40 | 16,935 | 6.3% | $193,816 | $49,581 | 2,492 | |
| 39 | Ada | 38.60 | 16,575 | 4.3% | $180,732 | $53,507 | 2,407 | |
| 40 | Enid | 39.40 | 50,653 | 5.3% | $135,597 | $62,125 | 2,906 | |
| 41 | Vinita | 40.60 | 5,300 | 6.8% | $193,538 | $47,025 | 2,094 | |
| 42 | Woodward | 40.60 | 11,882 | 7.5% | $133,256 | $54,463 | 1,666 | |
| 43 | Chickasha | 41.10 | 16,539 | 6.9% | $155,772 | $54,111 | 2,219 | |
| 44 | Cushing | 41.40 | 8,367 | 5.6% | $140,272 | $44,136 | 2,689 | |
| 45 | Tulsa | 41.40 | 413,794 | 6.1% | $217,450 | $59,838 | 4,542 | |
| 46 | Lawton | 42.20 | 90,595 | 8.1% | $139,275 | $54,433 | 3,458 | |
| 47 | McAlester | 43.10 | 18,111 | 6.9% | $155,080 | $51,930 | 2,744 | |
| 48 | Miami | 43.30 | 12,926 | 3.0% | $126,482 | $46,410 | 3,358 | |
| 49 | Durant | 43.50 | 19,746 | 4.8% | $223,126 | $46,812 | 3,565 | |
| 50 | Tecumseh | 43.90 | 6,332 | 3.6% | $129,935 | $48,573 | 2,006 | |
| 51 | Shawnee | 43.90 | 31,671 | 6.0% | $178,527 | $55,815 | 3,375 | |
| 52 | Warr Acres | 44.40 | 10,466 | 3.7% | $180,177 | $53,273 | 3,851 | |
| 53 | Pryor Creek | 44.70 | 9,569 | 8.6% | $183,613 | $44,839 | 2,717 | |
| 54 | El Reno | 44.70 | 18,557 | 6.1% | $179,646 | $56,219 | 1,681 | |
| 55 | Idabel | 44.90 | 6,987 | 5.4% | $138,276 | $43,295 | 2,276 | |
| 56 | Ardmore | 45.10 | 24,877 | 4.5% | $152,584 | $53,900 | 4,249 | |
| 57 | Hugo | 46.50 | 5,182 | 4.4% | $118,771 | $33,917 | 2,489 | |
| 58 | Holdenville | 46.70 | 5,902 | 7.9% | $58,838 | $46,250 | 1,796 | |
| 59 | Duncan | 46.70 | 22,958 | 6.8% | $135,089 | $58,054 | 2,465 | |
| 60 | Wagoner | 46.90 | 8,082 | 6.1% | $183,724 | $57,917 | 2,858 | |
| 61 | Okmulgee | 47.45 | 11,348 | 8.2% | $106,354 | $41,848 | 3,631 | |
| 62 | Muskogee | 48.80 | 36,758 | 6.7% | $141,346 | $50,213 | 3,950 | |
| 63 | Henryetta | 48.95 | 5,608 | 10.8% | $110,363 | $45,259 | 1,498 | |
| 64 | Pauls Valley | 49.40 | 6,062 | 5.2% | $145,919 | $50,357 | 2,540 | |
| 65 | Sallisaw | 50.60 | 8,605 | 4.8% | $182,769 | $48,036 | 3,696 | |
| 66 | Poteau | 50.65 | 8,959 | 6.1% | $186,457 | $50,511 | 3,304 | |
| 67 | Anadarko | 51.50 | 5,572 | 6.2% | $67,936 | $43,105 | 3,051 | |
| 68 | Seminole | 53.00 | 7,194 | 7.4% | $128,772 | $39,121 | 2,572 |
Source: U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024, FBI UCR, Zillow research. 68 places with more than 5,000 residents.
Summary
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, Edmond, Owasso, Verdigris, Mustang, Broken Arrow, Newcastle, Collinsville, and Yukon.
Jenks made a strong showing to take in the overall number one spot for the best place to live in Oklahoma for 2026.
