10 Best Places To Live In Oklahoma For 2020

The 10 Best Places To Live In Oklahoma For 2020

1. Jenks

Jenks, a city of 21,793 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 2nd best-paid populace in Oklahoma, with a typical household bringing in around $93,364/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 4th highest in Oklahoma at $205,100 and rent goes for around $1,184/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.

2. Bixby

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 5th lowest in Oklahoma, while the rate of residents with health insurance is the 3rd highest in the state. Homes may be the 3rd priciest in Oklahoma, but residents also enjoy the 4th highest median household income statewide at $83,312/year.

3. Edmond

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 $78,692/year.

4. Piedmont

Piedmont is a thriving and dynamic city of 7,424 located just northwest of Oklahoma City. The population of Piedmont has expanded by nearly 40% in the last decade thanks in part to its friendly, inviting atmosphere, relatively low cost of living, and plentiful recreational and cultural opportunities. Plus, being just a half-hour from OKC's Bricktown Entertain District, with its endless supply of fun, means residents have easy access to all the big-city amenities without sacrificing on the small-town atmosphere.

There are a lot of stats that prove Piedmont's excellence; the lowest unemployment rate and lowest poverty level in Oklahoma, at 0.5% and 2.3% respectively, for a start. 94.0% of residents have health insurance, the highest rate statewide. Piedmont also has a crime rate that's roughly 90% below the national average and ranks as the lowest in Oklahoma. Finally, Piedmont is among the richest palces in Oklahoma, with the highest median household income at $97,733/year and 2nd most expensive homes in the state.

5. Mustang

A rapidly-growing bedroom community of OKC, Mustang comes in as our 5th best place in Oklahoma for 2020. 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 5th lowest crime rate, 6th lowest poverty rate, and 4th 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 $154,000.

6. Broken Arrow

Oklahoma's fourth biggest city and a neighbor of Tulsa, Broken Arrow ranks as the 6th 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 $163,900 and you can find a nice spot to rent for $1,026/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.

7. Owasso

A northern suburb of Tulsa, Owasso ranks as the 7th 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 8th highest median household income in the state at $72,930/year. It's quite easy to see why the city's grown by more than 30% in the last decade.

8. Blanchard

A southern suburb of Oklahoma City, Blanchard is the oldest city on this list, with a median age of 39. 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 3.2%, 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 $186,700 mortgage? You're in luck, because at $699/month, rent in Blanchard is 40% cheaper than the average rent in Oklahoma.

9. Moore

Moore has grown from a small town on the Oklahoma prairie to a dynamic city of 60,807. Located due south of Oklahoma City, Moore has entertainment options for everyone. The Yellow Rose Theatre offers the only-full time dinner theatre while Andy Alligator's Fun & Water Park in nearby Norman gets rave reviews from children and children at heart.

The poverty rate in Moore is the 13th lowest in Oklahoma at 9.1% and the unemployment rate of 4.2% ranks as the 16th lowest statewide. Moore is also the 3rd most densely populated spot in Oklahoma, so you'll never be far from the action. A median home price of $135,400 is among the cheapest on this list, while a median rent of $1,006/month is about 25% higher than the statewide median.

We're taking a departure from the big city 'burbs to reach our 10th best Oklahoman city, Alma. Located in the northwestern part of the state in the middle of three state parks, Alma is an outdoorsman or woman's dream city. The Mural District provides residents with an aesthetically pleasing cityscape and has given Alva no small fame in a state known for mural artists.

Alva is the youngest city on our list, with a median age of 33. That's easily explained by the fact that Alva is the home of Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Students love a good deal, and it's tough to beat Alva on that score, seeing as it's Oklahoma's most affordable city. Housing in Alva is about 25% cheaper than the statewide average, and you won't find cheaper homes on this list than in Alva, where a typical home sells for $93,300. Other perks of Alva? The city has the 4th lowest crime rate and 1st shortest average commute time in Oklahoma.

How We Calculated The Best Cities To Live In Oklahoma

Now that we had our set of cities, it was time to rank them.

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, with the city posting the lowest overall score being crowned the winner of the title "Best Place To Live In Oklahoma".

The criteria we looked at were:

• Median Home Values
• Median Income
• Population Density (Higher better)
• Unemployment Rate
• Commute Time
• Crime
• Education Levels
• Health Insurance Coverage
• Poverty rates

Sources of criteria include the New Census Data and FBI Crime Data. You can download the data here.

After the dust settled, what was the best place to live in Oklahoma? That would be Jenks.

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.