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Living in Oklahoma City, OK

Big city in Oklahoma

Oklahoma City is a big city in Oklahoma, home to about 689,000 people, with 1.3 million living within 31 mi. Day to day, a car is essential. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are mostly houses.

Is Oklahoma City a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $209k and rents for $1,680 a month
  • Strong healthcare: 5 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Easy flying: OKC is 7 mi away
  • Low taxes: about $1,223 state income tax per resident, 1.02% property tax

👎 Cons

  • Fewer outdoor escapes: no big hills or water close by
  • Smaller job market: about 1.3 million people live within 31 mi
  • Fewer family amenities than most places
  • Hot summers: highs around 92°F

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Oklahoma City ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
689,000
1.3 million within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
52°F / 92°F
Average daily highs · 7″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$209k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,680/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
90
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,223
State income tax per resident · 1.02% property tax
Safety
1.9× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
20 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, tornadoes
Top-rated hospitals
5
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
34%
1 research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
OKC
7 mi away

Living in Oklahoma City: common questions

What is the cost of living in Oklahoma City?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $209k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,680 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 90, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Oklahoma City?

Oklahoma collects about $1,223 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.02% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Oklahoma City safe?

Violent crime is well above the national rate (1.9× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Oklahoma City?

Oklahoma City has cool winters: winter days average around 52°F and summer days around 92°F, with roughly 7″ of snow a year.

Does Oklahoma City get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding, tornadoes and heat waves: 20 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 1.03 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Oklahoma City?

The nearest major airport is OKC, about 7 mi away.

How Oklahoma City scores

Each bar compares Oklahoma City with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Mid-size Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Suburban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Car essential Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Culture & nightlife Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cool winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Very affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Relaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Private AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Mostly houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Excellent
💸Low taxes Good
💼Job market Below average
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Average
🧸Kids & family Below average
🐕Dog-friendly Below average
⛰️Outdoors Poor
🎭Culture Average
🛡️Safety Higher crime
🌪️Few natural disasters Average
☀️Sunny Good
🌤️Mild summers Below average
✈️Airport Good

Places like Oklahoma City

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 23 aspects.

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Is Oklahoma City right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.