If you are considering moving to Oklahoma, there is a lot you need to know! Between the weather, cost of living, and culture, Oklahoma is pretty special and it may or may not be the right first for you depending on your personal preferences. So let’s find out why you should move to Oklahoma and why you may want to avoid it!
You should move to Oklahoma if you want to save money as the cost of living is the second-lowest in the country, or if you enjoy a friendly community and a low crime rate. You should avoid Oklahoma if you don’t do well in humidity or are sensitive to extreme weather and if you want to live in a jaw-droppingly beautiful place.
These are simply the bullet points to a whole lot of information to help you decide if you should move to Oklahoma or avoid it at all costs. So keep reading! In the next few minutes, you are going to understand the many pros and cons of the Sooner state so you can decide for yourself if it should be the destination of your next home!
Facts About Life in Oklahoma
Before we go through the pros and cons of life in Oklahoma, we’re first going to discuss some of the statistics, facts, and figures about this southern state.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Population: 4,007,179
- Area Size: 69,899 Square Miles
- Density: 54.7 People per Square Mile (35th densest in the country)
- Major Cities: Oklahoma City (Population 998,000) and Tulsa (Population 774,000)
- Median Age: 36.3
- Religion: 79% Christian Based Faiths
- Politics: Republican (Red State)
- Demographics: White: 71.15% (Second highest number and percentage of Native Americans in the country)
- Cost of Living Index: 84.8 (Second cheapest state in the country)
Now it’s time to discuss these facts, as well as the less quantifiable information so you can figure out if you should move to Oklahoma or avoid it!
Pros of Oklahoma
While Oklahoma might not be the first state that comes to mind, it really has a lot to offer. Overall, Oklahoma is a great place to live, whether you are considering the low cost of living, low crime rate, rush hour-free cities, space to roam, or even job opportunities.
Here is a cohesive list of the many advantages of moving to Oklahoma:
- Low Cost of Living
- Affordable Housing
- Job Opportunities
- Safe Communities
Before you pack up and move to Oklahoma, you may need a little more information on what these many pros actually mean for you and your family.
Low Cost of Living
Oklahoma is the second cheapest state for the cost of living in the entire country. Which essentially means that your money will go a lot farther.
The average person living in Oklahoma will spend $34,533 per year on life’s necessities and extra all other expenses. Here is the cost of living breakdown:
| Category | Average Annual Per-Capita Cos |
| Housing and Utilities | $6,152 |
| Health Care | $6,121 |
| Food and Beverages (non-restaurant) | $2,645 |
| Gas and Energy Goods | $978 |
| All Other Personal Expenditures | $18,637 |
When using the cost of living index to compare Oklahoma to the rest of the country, the state has an impressively low 83.7 of 100. States that have a score over 100 are considered expensive.
In addition to being the second most affordable state in the country, Oklahoma also offers incredibly affordable housing.
Affordable Housing
In late 2021, Zillow (a popular online housing market) gave a typical home value in Oklahoma of nearly $160,000. That’s less than half the national average sale price of $352,800.
Essentially that means that you will be able to buy a bigger and a nicer home for a fraction of the cost in Oklahoma.
For some, that is reason enough to move to Oklahoma, but in case you’re not convinced, there are a few more reasons!
Job Opportunities
In cities such as Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Edmond, and Clinton, there are certainly great job opportunities. Some Fortune 500 companies have set up camp in Oklahoma City and are providing well-paying jobs for its residents, and it was recently ranked as one of the fastest-growing job markets in the nation
Because much of the state is rural, the jobs can be fewer and further between in the outskirts, so if you are interested in getting a good job in Oklahoma, you may want to live in or close to a metropolitan area.
Safe Communities
Oklahoma has an extremely low crime rate, so you can feel safe in your home and community.
The violent crime rate is only 4.6 per 1,000 people, and the property crime rate is 28.7 per 1,000.
For a little comparison, California’s rate is 428 per 100,000 residents. Statistically, you are 100 times safer living in Oklahoma than you are in California.
Cons of Oklahoma
While realistically there are far more advantages than deterrents for moving to Oklahoma, these few cons may affect your opinion on the state and help you decide whether you should avoid Oklahoma altogether.
- Severe Weather: Oklahoma has four seasons, however, the summers are muggy, winters are cold, and spring is filled with rain and hail storms. It is located directly in tornado alley and experiences extreme weather throughout the year.
- Disappointing Landscape: While there are some beautiful parts of Oklahoma, in general, the rolling planes don’t really compare to some of the more impressive parts of the country.
- Inadequate Schools: Unfortunately, although Oklahoma City is trying to improve its school systems, the state ranked 44th overall for K-12 education.
If you are still interested in moving to Oklahoma but want to avoid these disadvantages, you should consider moving to Oklahoma City as it is growing beautifully into a prominent cultural metropolitan.
Final Thoughts
So, should you move to Oklahoma or should you avoid it? Well, it’s really up to you!
Hopefully, you now have all the information you need to decide if Oklahoma is the right home state for you!
