Firstly why Oklahoma-City, Oklahoma?

I’ll start with some quick stats and an overview:

• City: Oklahoma-City
• State: Oklahoma
• Population: 655,057 people
• Oklahoma-City’s quick summary would be The state capital, famous for the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Bricktown entertainment district, and the Oklahoma City National Memorial.

Some people I know rave about this place, others say it’s on the upswing or going through changes. Check out these migration details:

• How many people move-in: 50,000 annually
• While this many move-out: 24,000 annually
• Net Migration: 26000 more people in (net) annual change
• Non-Citizen Move-in: 3,000
• Number of Homeless people: 7,000

You might wonder why people choose to move here, I’d say generally because it as a major city offers job opportunities and urban amenities attracting diverse populations

Perk #1: Oklahoma-City Demographic Mix & Lifestyle

• The percentage of Residents Age 30–50 is about 35%
• Percentage of Home Ownership is hovering around 63%
• Largest Local Ethnic Group is Black
• The 2nd Largest Ethnic Group is mostly White
• The median income is (and growing)  $49,000
• Income Required to Live Comfortably in Oklahoma-City is $59,000
• Average Extra Spending Money after paying bills yearly is approx. $10000 in positive cash flow

This and any cities local population can be a real melting pot—or sometimes it’s more homogeneous, depending on the area. Ask yourself: would you enjoy a bustling community with diverse backgrounds, or do you prefer a quieter, tight-knit vibe?

Perk #2: Housing & Oklahoma-City’s Cost of Living

• Cost of Living Index: 95 (100 is the US average)
• Annual Property Tax Per House: $1,451
• Property Tax %: 1.1%
• Rent for an average 2BD Apartment: $1,000
• Rent for an average house: $1,600
• Popular and Expensive Neighborhood: Bricktown
• Top 5 Growing Areas: Oklahoma-City, Edmond, Yukon, Mustang, and probably could include Midwest-City
• Avg. Age of Homes in Oklahoma-City: 65 years
• The Percentage of Realtors per 100 people here: 2.5%

If the cost-of-living index is low, you might find a place without selling your kidney. If it’s high, well, you’ll need to budget carefully. Some income earners thrive in pricey markets, others prefer less financially stressful areas.

Perk #3: Job Market & Oklahoma-City’s Economy

• 3 Industries gaining traction in Oklahoma-City are  Energy, Manufacturing, and Healthcare
• Oklahoma-City Job Scene: strong job market in energy and healthcare
• The General Tech Scene: emerging tech hub with strengths in healthcare, educational technology, and finance
• Oklahoma-City Resident’s pay $1,800 in City Tax alone!
• Local Sales Tax in Oklahoma-City: 8%
• No. of Independent Businesses: 200 (excluding chains and corporates)
• Number of Local Branch Banks: 31

Maybe you’re a go-getter in finance, tech, or healthcare. Or you’d rather open a mom-and-pop shop. Either way, it’s worth checking if the local industries align with your skill set—or if you’re game to try something new.

Perk #4: Transportation & Commuting in Oklahoma-City

• Monthly Transportation Costs: $100 on average per person
• Freeway Access: I-40 and I-44 run through Oklahoma City providing critical access
• Commute Time: 28 minutes (public & private)
• Main Evening Traffic Area: evening traffic jams on I-35
• Transportation Score: 49 out of 100 described as Some Transit
• No. of Vehicles Registered in Oklahoma-City: 300,000
• Cars registered per Person: 0.5
• No. of Car Washes: 20 in and around the city
• DMV Website for Oklahoma-City: ok.gov/ooa/
• The Bike-Friendly Score: 60 of 100
• Local Airport: Will Rogers World

Is a 15-minute commute your dream, or is 45 minutes stuck on the freeway a dealbreaker? If you can handle traffic or love public transit, this might be perfect. If not, brace yourself with a killer podcast lineup.

Perk #5: Oklahoma-City’s Weather & Natural Factors

• The Most Common Natural Disaster is Tornadoes
• General Weather in Oklahoma-City is best described as experiences hot summers and mild winters with sporadic rainfall
• Winter Weather in Oklahoma-City i’d describe as mild with rain
• Spring Weather in Oklahoma-City can be described as mild with some rain
• Summer’s in Oklahoma-City are mostly hot and humid
• Fall ( the nicest time) in Oklahoma-City is usually mild with sunny days
• How many days in a row over 90°F: 34 days in summer
• Days in a row in Oklahoma-City below Freezing: 7
• Average Annual Rainfall: 34 inches
• Summer Air Quality is usually moderate air quality influenced by urbanization
• Oklahoma-City Winter Air mixed air quality influenced by urban pollution

Do you live for sunny skies? Or maybe you can’t stand humidity. Some relish snowy winters; others run south at the first snowflake. And if hurricanes, tornadoes, or earthquakes are part of the package, put all that into your consideration matrix.

Perk #6: Oklahoma-City Education & Schools

• The GreatSchools.org City Rating:
• Number of Colleges and Universities in Oklahoma-City 22
• While the number of trade schools inside Oklahoma-Citys’s city limits are 13
• Library that I have visited and enjoyed is the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Library System

If you’ve got kids—or you’re looking to further your own education—solid school ratings and local colleges can be a huge perk. If not, hey, a good library have more gems that you didn’t know existed, check it out.

Perk #7: Healthcare & Oklahoma-City Stats

• Typical EMS Response Time: 9 minutes
• Registered Full-Time Oklahoma-City only Doctors is about 356
• Local Hospitals here is  16
• Full-time Oklahoma-City only Police Officers is about 1,600
• Crime Rate Index: 75/100

Medical facilities could be important to you and who knows it could be related to the crime stats. Again some stats that are worth considering.

Perk #8: Utilities, Gyms & Water Quality

• Oklahoma-City’s Monthly utility bill average is $100
• Oklahoma-City’s Monthly Gym Membership: $48
• Oklahoma-City’s Water Quality Score: 63

Some of us freak out if water tastes off, others don’t mind. Gym buffs will appreciate a cheap membership; others prefer running outside for free. Check if these monthly costs fit inside your realistic lifestyle.

Perk #9: Events, Festivals & Vibe in Oklahoma-City

• Approx number of Festivals the city puts on is 12 annually
• The General Local City Vibe: state capital with a vibrant downtown and diverse culture
• You might enjoy concerts at the Chesapeake Energy Arena
• Nightlife Scene (yes this is completely subjective), Oklahoma-City  has a vibrant nightlife scene with an array of clubs bars and events illustrating local culture

If you love a lively social calendar—fairs, concerts, maybe the odd chili cook-off—this is your jam. If crowds make you itch, you might only show up for the funnel cakes.

Perk #10: The Food, Sports & Culture of Oklahoma-City

• The Objective Restaurant Scene Includes a vibrant food scene with many diverse options
• The Number of Independent Restaurants are 100 scattered around Oklahoma-City
• The Popular Sports Team is Oklahoma City Thunder
• Top Level Political Climate in Oklahoma-City can be described as state capital with mixed political climate emphasizing growth
• Oklahoma-City’s Longer standing religious establishment is Oklahoma City Community Church

Whether you’re a foodie wanting fancy cuisine or a sports nut who can’t miss the local team’s home game, see if your interests line up with what the city offers.

Perk #11: Oklahoma-City Parks & Green Spaces

• Did you know Oklahoma-City has 120 Parks?
• Bricktown Canal is Oklahoma-City’s Green Space Center
• The local favorite Farmers Market is Oklahoma City Farmers Market normally open Saturday 8am-1pm
• Outdoor Activities that both weekend warriors are pro’s can enjoy are Hiking, parks, and cultural events

Love fresh air? A city investing in parks and markets can be a sanity-saver. If you prefer the indoors, maybe it’s less of a draw—but I still say fresh produce is never a bad thing.

Perk #12: Oklahoma-City Neighborhoods Pace & Proximity

• The Pace of Life in Oklahoma-City can be described as fast-paced urban environment with a focus on growth and diversity
• 3 Family-Friendly Activities anyone can enjoy in Oklahoma-City visiting local parks community events exploring museums
• The Cities people commute to from Oklahoma-City are Oklahoma-City 18 miles away Moore 9 miles away Noble 10 miles away

Neighborhood pace can range from laid-back suburbs to frantic downtown vibes. If you need a quick getaway, big neighboring cities can scratch that itch for a weekend change of scene.

8 Drawbacks about Oklahoma-City or are they?

No place is perfect. I rate these as important based on your location and type of work you do. They might not be negatives or positives for everyone.

1. Traffic/Commute Issues
   Maybe you read: evening traffic jams on I-35. If you hate gridlock, look at alternative routes or brace yourself with podcasts.
2. Natural Disaster or Extreme Weather
   Oklahoma-City’s Tornadoes risk could be minimal or major. Dig more on that is your eyebrow just went up.
3. Pricey Neighborhoods
   If Bricktown is out of your price point, you might consider these places nearby Oklahoma-City are Oklahoma-City 18 miles away Moore 9 miles away Noble 10 miles away.
4. Crime Rate Concerns
   With a 75 of 100, some neighborhoods might feel safer than others. Everyone has a different tolerance for this.
5. Harsh Climate Contrasts
   Oklahoma-City has 7 days in a row below freezing and 34 days above 90 degrees. This might be your heaven or your nightmare. Some people can’t stand snow, while others pray for it.
6. Limited Extra Funds
   After general costs of living here in Oklahoma-City people have an average (positive or negative) $10000 in positive cash flow left over in income to spend or pay off. Economics will make or break you here.
7. Homelessness or Social Challenges
   7,000 homeless people living in Oklahoma-City. It can be tough for the community—no easy solutions.
8. Cultural/Political Mismatch
   The general state capital with mixed political climate emphasizing growth could change but probably not quickly. We all go thru cycles in our lifestyle and outlook. Think about this and your future outlook before a move to Oklahoma-City.

Retiree & Senior Life in Oklahoma-City

• Retiree Tax Benefits say seniors can can access tax credits supporting property tax reductions
• The most established Senior Citizen Community is The Park
• Oklahoma City Senior Center features recreational programs health services and social activities

If you’re in (or nearing) retirement, see if the city provides property tax breaks or comfy 55+ communities. Some places cater heavily to seniors, others less so.

Moving to Oklahoma-City, Oklahoma?

If Oklahoma-City, Oklahoma ir your next home or you are packing up, Let Allied Van Lines Help

As someone who’s hauled half his life across state lines more times than I can recall, let me say that Allied Van Lines simplifies the process. From big bulky couches to fragile antiques, they’ve got you covered.

A quick quote or phone call might be all you need to turn your daydream into reality. If you see me around Oklahoma-City, Oklahoma, say hi—I’m the guy who once moved with nothing but a backpack and a guitar. Good luck on your new adventure!