What it's like to live in Norman
Norman is a mid-size city in Oklahoma with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, unemployment below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Norman deals with household incomes below the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, hospital ratings below the national average, and hot summers.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Air quality concerns
- Below-average hospital ratings
- Hot summers
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Norman compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Norman
Based on Norman's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,180
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $43,600 a year
- 47% of Norman renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$50,020
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $25,010
- Homes cost 3.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 23% below US
$1,090/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,090 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $250,100. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $250,100 · 47% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 28% below US
3.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.1%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 26% below US
243 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1813/100k · Norman Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 13% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 22.6 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 30°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
4 hospitals
There are 4 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 2.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 27% above US
46% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 46% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
30 public schools inside the boundary
There are 30 public schools inside the boundary and 6 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Oklahoma City National Memorial (19 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Norman's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks. A year of median rent ($1,090/mo) equals 19% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, job seekers, and anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Norman
All Oklahoma guides →Not sure Norman is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.