So, you’re curious about living in Oklahoma? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Oklahoma.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Oklahoma matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Oklahoma is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Oklahoma
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Oklahoma is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Oklahoma:
- Everyone is very friendly and welcoming.
- We have plenty of lakes, rivers and streams for fishing, swimming, skiing or boating.
- The weather here isn’t too bad once you’re accustomed to it. Oklahoma doesn’t experience much snowfall; we don’t even get any real cold days during the year that require bundling up too much in coats and gloves!
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Oklahoma:
- Lack of diversity in our schools.
- There’s a lot more driving to do here, which can be daunting for some people who are used to being able to walk everywhere they need to go.
- The humidity is high and it gets very hot during the summer months; with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit on multiple days each year!
Read More: Is Oklahoma a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Oklahoma
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Oklahoma? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Oklahoma!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Oklahoma.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Oklahoma:
- Edmond
- Newcastle
- Norman
- Oklahoma City
- Tulsa
Read More: Best Places to Live in Oklahoma
Checklist for Moving to Oklahoma
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Oklahoma. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Oklahoma.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Oklahoma:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Oklahoma driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Oklahoma
- Getting Oklahoma car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Oklahoma and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Oklahoma.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Oklahoma and your previous home state.
Visit your Oklahoma Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Oklahoma Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Oklahoma.
Things to Know About Living in Oklahoma
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Oklahoma, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Oklahoma
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Oklahoma ranks 3rd on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 87.9, meaning it’s a relatively cheap place to live.
Here is how Oklahoma scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 94.6
- Housing: 73
- Utilities: 93.4
- Transportation: 92.5
- Health: 94
- Miscellaneous: 93.5
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Oklahoma
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Oklahoma from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
Oklahoma’s state sales tax rate is lower than the national average at 4.5%, with an average local rate of 4.45% (the highest local sales tax rate is 7%). Across the state, the average sales tax rate is about 8.95%.
Check with the Oklahoma tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Oklahoma
If you own or plan to own real estate in Oklahoma, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Oklahoma ranks 25th (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of 0.9%
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Oklahoma tax office for the most current tax rates.
Oklahoma’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Oklahoma is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Oklahoma ranks 31st for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Manufacturing
- Professional and business services
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Transportation and warehousing
- Retail trade
- Wholesale trade
- Finance and insurance
- Construction
The top employer in Oklahoma is Walmart.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Oklahoma
Our Oklahoma moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Oklahoma is the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
Facts about Oklahoma
Oklahoma is the 46th state of the United States that lies in the southern region. To its north is Kansas, to its south is Texas, to its east is Arkansas, and to its west is New Mexico.
What is the capital of Oklahoma?
The capital of Oklahoma is Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City is located in Oklahoma County with a population of 649,021.
What is the population of Oklahoma?
The population of Oklahoma based on 2020 US Census data is 3,959,353.
What is the largest city in Oklahoma?
The largest city in Oklahoma is Oklahoma City.
What is the size of Oklahoma?
Oklahoma is 69,898 square miles, making it the 20th largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Oklahoma?
The state motto of Oklahoma is: Labor omnia vincit
What is the state bird of Oklahoma?
The state bird of Oklahoma is the Scissor-tailed flycatcher.
What is the state flower of Oklahoma?
The state flower of Oklahoma is the Oklahoma rose.
What is the state tree of Oklahoma?
The state tree of Oklahoma is the Eastern Redbud.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Oklahoma?
The minimum wage in Oklahoma is $7.25 per hour.
What is the median income in Oklahoma?
The median annual household salary in Oklahoma is $51,924.