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Living in
Oklahoma City.
About
Life in Oklahoma City
Life in OKC is surprisingly affordable and sprawling—you get genuine bang for your buck on housing, with median home values around $231,300 and rent averaging $1,130 a month, which means your paycheck stretches further than in most major metros. The job market is stable thanks to a diversified economy anchored by oil and gas, livestock markets, and substantial federal employment at Tinker Air Force Base and the FAA's aeronautical center, keeping unemployment consistently low at 3.2%. The city itself spans 620 square miles with a population just over 680,000, so expect car-dependent living—your average commute is about 22 minutes, and neighborhoods vary wildly from affluent historic districts near downtown to blue-collar working-class areas on the south side, where the rapidly growing Latino community centers around the historic Stockyards.
Oklahoma City at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
15.1%
Foreign-Born
12.1%
Broadband Internet
92.0%
of households
Population Growth
+5.7%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics12.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Oklahoma City: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Oklahoma City, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (42.0%), and 16.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.9%
of residents
65 and Older
13.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.4%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.0%
of households
Married Couples
42.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.45
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 11% above OK average
Rent, home values, and income in Oklahoma City
In Oklahoma City, rent runs 11% above the OK average, and home values are 16% above the OK average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
24.1%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
90.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,311
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
58.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1982
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.6%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $204,979 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for OK
Unemployment in Oklahoma City and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Oklahoma City is close to the OK average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Oklahoma City Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Oklahoma City, OK metro area
Commute22.2 min avg
How Oklahoma City residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Oklahoma City, most residents drive alone to work (76%), and 74% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 7 mi
OKC Will Rogers World Airport (OKC)
Small hub2.2M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 107% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Oklahoma City runs 107% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
681
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,657.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Oklahoma City Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 51 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
97.9 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Oklahoma County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Oklahoma County, which includes Oklahoma City, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 51 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 51 | Hail | $8.1M |
| 2024 | 43 | Heat | $56.1M |
| 2023 | 55 | Hail | $2.5M |
| 2022 | 37 | Drought | $108,000 |
| 2021 | 37 | Thunderstorm Wind | $162,000 |
| 2020 | 24 | Thunderstorm Wind | $24,000 |
| 2019 | 38 | Hail | $246,000 |
| 2018 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $170,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
35 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Oklahoma County, county-wide
Air Quality51 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Oklahoma County, which includes Oklahoma City, is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
51
Good Days
182
per year
Moderate Days
176
per year
Unhealthy Days
1
per year
Oklahoma County, county-wide
Climate91°F summers, 29°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Oklahoma City has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and cold winters (avg low 29°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
71°/48°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/69°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
72°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
51°/29°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
37.0"
Annual Snowfall
6.7"
Hot Days/Year
74
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
72
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
81
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 27°F | 1.32" |
| Feb | 54°F | 31°F | 1.42" |
| Mar | 63°F | 40°F | 2.55" |
| Apr | 71°F | 48°F | 3.60" |
| May | 79°F | 58°F | 5.31" |
| Jun | 88°F | 66°F | 4.49" |
| Jul | 93°F | 70°F | 3.59" |
| Aug | 92°F | 69°F | 3.60" |
| Sep | 84°F | 62°F | 3.72" |
| Oct | 73°F | 49°F | 3.32" |
| Nov | 61°F | 38°F | 1.68" |
| Dec | 50°F | 30°F | 1.79" |
Healthcare19 hospitals, avg 3.3/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City has 19 hospitals, averaging 3.3 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
19
within city limits
Uninsured
13.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.3 / 5
Oklahoma Heart Hospital South, Llc
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Ssm Health St Anthony Hospital - Oklahoma City
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Community Hospital, Llc
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Ssm Health St Anthony Hospital - Midwest
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.8 mi away · Midwest City
The Children's Center, Inc.
Childrens · ER available · 7.3 mi away · Bethany
Summit Medical Center, Llc
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.7 mi away · Edmond
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education17.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City's student/teacher ratio is 17.5:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 34.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
155
within city limits
Private Schools
32
within city limits
College Degree Rate
34.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City Community College
Public · 2-year · 9,758 students · in-state tuition $4,059 · 18% graduate · median earnings $41,812 (10 yrs after entry)
Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City
Public · 2-year · 3,514 students · in-state tuition $3,853 · 23% graduate · median earnings $44,121 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,885 students · in-state tuition $28,200 · 58% graduate · median earnings $55,959 (10 yrs after entry)
Mid-America Christian University
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,666 students · in-state tuition $22,356 · 42% graduate · median earnings $46,785 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,514 students · in-state tuition $35,648 · 70% graduate · median earnings $62,267 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center
Public · 4-year · 1,214 students · 94% graduate · median earnings $66,905 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
University of Central Oklahoma
13.2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 10,170 students · in-state tuition $9,043 · 44% graduate · median earnings $51,263 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 4,953 students · in-state tuition $5,144 · 17% graduate · median earnings $41,703 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,455 students · in-state tuition $32,750 · 66% graduate · median earnings $59,257 (10 yrs after entry)
Southwestern Christian University
7.7 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 377 students · in-state tuition $22,500 · 27% graduate · median earnings $40,962 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 267 students · in-state tuition $18,990 · 30% graduate · median earnings $45,886 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Oklahoma City National Memorial, 0 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Oklahoma City National Memorial (0 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Oklahoma City National Memorial
National Memorial
0 mi awayChickasaw National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
75 mi awayPublic Libraries in Oklahoma City
Ronald J Norick Downtown Library
300 Park Avenue, Oklahoma City
Almonte Library
2914 Sw 59 St, Oklahoma City
Belle Isle Library
5501 N. Villa, Oklahoma City
Capitol Hill Library
327 Sw 27th Street, Oklahoma City
Northwest Library
5600 Nw 122nd Street, Oklahoma City
Ralph Ellison Library
2000 Ne 23rd Street, Oklahoma City
Southern Oaks Library
6900 S Walker, Oklahoma City
Southwest Oklahoma City Public Library
2201 S. W. 134th, Oklahoma City
Wright Library
2101 Exchange Avenue, Oklahoma City
Cities Near Oklahoma City
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Oklahoma City?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Oklahoma City FAQ
Is Oklahoma City, Oklahoma affordable?⌄
Oklahoma City's median rent is $1,130/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $68,656/year. Median home value is $231,300.
Is Oklahoma City, Oklahoma safe?⌄
Oklahoma City's violent crime rate was 681 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 2658 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma?⌄
Oklahoma City has an unemployment rate of 3.2%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma?⌄
The cost of living in Oklahoma City is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,130/month and median household income is $68,656/year. The median home value is $231,300. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma?⌄
The average commute in Oklahoma City is 22 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from