50
States ranked
1,312
Cities scored
49
Data sources
11
Scoring categories
America’s Dashboard

America's Dashboard ranks and scores all 50 US states and1,312 cities using real government data. Compare economy, safety, health, education, affordability, and more — free, transparent, and updated with the latest federal statistics.

Updated as each source publishes its latest release

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Data sources

Rankings are computed from publicly available federal and state government datasets, supplemented by a handful of published indexes (such as the Tax Foundation, Child Care Aware of America and Zillow Research). Figures are used as each source publishes them, including the FBI's own state crime estimates; nothing is synthetic or modeled by us, and every source is cited below.

  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS annual averages·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-year·
  • FBI Crime Data Explorer, estimated crimes by state·
  • CDC NCHS U.S. State Life Tables·
  • CDC BRFSS·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS (table S2701)·
  • NAEP, The Nation's Report Card·
  • EDFacts adjusted cohort graduation rate (NCES)·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates·
  • Cook Political Report, PVI·
  • Tax Foundation, Facts & Figures·
  • ALEC Rich States Poor States·
  • WalletHub Tax Burden Study·
  • Zillow Research, Zillow Home Value Index·
  • BEA Regional Price Parities·
  • EPA AirData, Median AQI by County·
  • EIA State Electricity Profiles·
  • FEMA National Risk Index·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, Net Domestic Migration·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS Broadband Subscriptions·
  • National Park Service API·
  • USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-year Commuting·
  • FHWA Highway Statistics·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns·
  • EIA residential electricity prices·
  • EIA State Energy Data System, motor gasoline prices·
  • EIA Natural Gas Prices, residential·
  • Child Care Aware of America, Price & Supply·
  • Tax Foundation, State Income Tax Rates and Brackets·
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, goods·
  • NCES Common Core of Data (CCD)·
  • EDFacts ACGR Graduation Rates·
  • NCES School District Finance Survey (F-33)·
  • BEA GDP by State (SAGDP9)·
  • NASBO Fiscal Survey of States·
  • Census Bureau State Government Finances·
  • Pew Charitable Trusts Fiscal 50·
  • Pew Charitable Trusts, State Pension Funding·
  • S&P/Moody's via Ballotpedia·
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics, OES·
  • IRS Statistics of Income, State-to-State Migration·
  • U.S. Census Bureau, ACS State-to-State Migration Flows·
  • Zillow Research, Home Values, Rents & Market Metrics·
  • FBI Crime Data Explorer, city police agency reports·
  • CDC PLACES, city health estimates·
  • NOAA U.S. Climate Normals·
  • EPA National Walkability Index
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America’s Dashboard
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Home/States/Oklahoma

2026 edition·South·Pop. 4,123,288·Capital Oklahoma City·46th state, admitted 1907·Cook PVI R+20

Is Oklahoma a Good Place to Live? Oklahoma Rankings, Cost of Living, Crime & Taxes

Oklahoma ranks #43 of 50 with a composite score of 43 and a D grade, strongest in affordability (#4) and weakest in health (#48). The median household earns $66,148 (18% below the national median), homes typically cost $223,261 (39% below the national average), and violent crime is 408 per 100,000 (24% above the national average).

Editor's verdict
$65,093 buys the typical Oklahoma home, #7 lowest in the country, and that one figure explains why households arrive from Texas earning $59,003 and still feel flush. The bill comes due elsewhere: health ranks #48, and the spring tornado season is priced into every roof and insurance quote from Moore to Tulsa.
Compare Oklahoma with its neighbors →Best cities in Oklahoma →How the score works →
Composite score
43D
#43 of 50 · #10 in the South
Top 10 in
Affordability #4
Middle of the pack
Growth #15, Fiscal Health #27, Environment #32, Transportation #32, Economy #33, Livability #37, Outdoor Access #39
Bottom 10 in
Safety #41, Health #48, Education #48
NumbersNumbersScorecardScoresCostCostTaxesTaxesSafetySafetyJobsJobsSchools & healthSchoolsMovingMovingCitiesCitiesBest forBest forNeighborsNeighborsFAQFAQ
Top ↑

Oklahoma by the numbers

Six measures every state is judged on, each with Oklahoma's rank of 50 and the national figure beside it.

Median household income
$66,148
#45 of 50, 1 = highest · US $80,903
Typical home value
$223,261
#4 of 50, 1 = cheapest · US $368,697
Cost of living index
87.8
#4 of 50, 1 = cheapest · US 100
Violent crime per 100K
408
#39 of 50, 1 = safest · US 328
Unemployment rate
3.4%
#14 of 50, 1 = lowest · US 3.95%
Total tax burden
7.01%
#9 of 50, 1 = lowest · US 8.74%

Sources, latest releases: Census Bureau ACS (income), Zillow Research (home value), BEA Regional Price Parities (cost index), FBI state crime estimates (crime), BLS LAUS (unemployment), WalletHub tax burden study (taxes). Rank 1 is the best value in each measure: highest income, lowest cost, lowest crime.

→Read the Oklahoma overview

Oklahoma scores above the national average in 3 of 11 categories and ranks #10 of 14 states in the South, behind 9 regional neighbors. Its biggest edge over the country is typical home value ($223,261, 39% below the national average); its biggest shortfall is violent crime rate (408, 24% above the national average). That mix of top-10 finishes (1) and bottom-10 finishes (3) is why the composite alone undersells the tradeoffs a mover here faces.

What stands out
  • Cost of living index of 87.8, #4 cheapest, with Oklahoma City rent at $1,388, 29% below the national average, and the discount holds inside the metros.
  • Energy headquarters in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, the Cushing crude hub, and a wind fleet putting renewables at 52% of electricity (#11).
  • The center of Tornado Alley: Moore and Norman have been hit repeatedly, and the FEMA index of 34.6 is 17% above the national average.

Where does Oklahoma rank in each category?

All 11 categories that make up the composite, heaviest weight first. Oklahoma is top 10 in 1 and bottom 10 in 3.

CategoryScoreRankGradeWeightUS avgThe numbers behind it
Economy42.2#33 of 50C+15%47.1Its unemployment rate is 3.4% and median household income is $66,148.
Safety56.4#41 of 50C12%68.9The FBI estimates 407.7 violent crimes and 1,813.5 property crimes per 100,000 residents.
Health26.7#48 of 50D12%54.4Life expectancy is 73.8 years, 36.8% of adults have obesity, and 11.5% of residents are uninsured.
Education30.2#48 of 50D12%57.5Eighth graders average 265 in NAEP math and 249 in reading, and the high school graduation rate is 80%.
Affordability88.6#4 of 50A+10%65.2Typical home value $223,261 (3.4x median income); cost of living index 87.8 (100 = US); center-based infant care $11,012 a year.
Fiscal Health58.4#27 of 50C+8%58.1It carries $2,560 of debt per resident, has 72% of pensions funded, and holds a AA credit rating.
Growth48.9#15 of 50B+7%38.8Population grew 0.62% last year; Census net domestic migration is +3.5 per 1,000 residents (the Moving section below uses IRS household counts, a different series).
Transportation47.1#32 of 50C+7%49.8The average commute is 22.7 minutes, 0.3% of workers use public transit, and 8.9% work from home.
Livability26.7#37 of 50C7%34.3It has 1.669 restaurants and 0.016 arts venues per 1,000 residents, plus 0.091 bars and 0.057 social associations per 1,000.
Outdoor Access12.7#39 of 50C6%29.42.2% of its land is public, with 2.61 recreation facilities per 10,000 residents.
Environment37.3#32 of 50C+4%42.5Its median air quality index is 46, 52% of its electricity is renewable, and its FEMA disaster risk score is 34.6.

Weight, US average and the evidence sentence for each category are shown on wider screens.

Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. US avg is the mean score of the 50 states. Click a category for its 50-state ranking.

Category shape

Oklahoma's 11 category scores. A balanced state fills the wheel evenly; Oklahoma bulges toward affordability and dips at health.

How expensive is Oklahoma?

Oklahoma's cost of living index is 87.8 against a national baseline of 100, 12% below the national average and #4 of 50 (1 = cheapest). The typical home is worth $223,261 (39% below the national average); buying it takes an income of about $65,093, $1,055 less than the median household earns. Inside the state the spread is wide: among tracked cities, Stillwater is cheapest (index 83.6) and Yukon priciest (90.4).

Housing market snapshot · August

Cold market
Typical home value
$223,261
+2.8% in 1 yr · +26.5% in 5 yr · national $369K
Mortgage payment
$1,149/mo
P&I, 20% down, current rates
Income needed
$65K
median earns $66K (-2%)
Rent, Oklahoma City
$1,388/mo
buying cheaper by $126 vs. a $1,262 metro payment
Price cuts · days
27% · 66
national 26% · 53 days

Ranked #47 of 50 most expensive by typical value and #7 on price relative to income (1 = most affordable). The median household earns enough to buy the typical home.

Full Oklahoma housing market: 26-year chart, rent vs. buy, cities →

What a household keeps at $75,000

HouseholdOklahomaMedian stateRank
Family of fourTwo adults, two kids, one in daycare+$5,197−$11,758#6 of 50
Single adultOne-bedroom rent, no childcare+$37,262+$31,418#5 of 50
Retiree coupleOwn the home, no payroll tax+$42,644+$35,970#5 of 50

Take-home pay minus housing, childcare, utilities, groceries and transport for a $75,000 household, from the affordability engine. Positive = money left over; negative = costs exceed take-home. Rank 1 = most left over.

Electricity price
13.12¢/kWh
#9 of 50 · US 17.84¢/kWh
Natural gas price
$13.99/Mcf
#21 of 50 · US $15.83/Mcf
Gasoline price
$3.04/gal
#10 of 50 · US $3.32/gal
Price level for goods
93.8
#5 of 50 · US 100
Center-based infant care, per year
$11,012
#9 of 50 · US $15,633
Editor's note

Oklahoma's 87.8 cost index, #4 lowest, is not a small-town artifact; the two metros are cheap too. Edmond, Jenks and Bixby carry the premium; Stillwater, Lawton and Muskogee sit well below the state figure. What newcomers underprice is the roof: hail and wind claims keep homeowners premiums high relative to home values, and a new roof every decade is normal. Sales tax at the register bites harder than cheap electricity saves. At $75,000, a family of four comes out at a $5,197 surplus, #6 nationally.

  • Run your own budget for Oklahoma →
  • Oklahoma housing market →
  • Housing rankings →

What are taxes like in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma's tax mix is high sales tax, with income and property taxes in the middle of the pack. The total state and local tax burden comes to 7.01% of income, 1.7 points below the national average (#9 of 50, 1 = lightest). Property tax is 0.85% of home value (#25), and combined sales tax averages 9.06% (#45).

Total tax burden
7.01%
#9 of 50 · US 8.74%
Top income tax rate
4.75%
#20 of 50 · US avg 5.46%
Effective property tax
0.85%
#25 of 50 · US 1.02%
Combined sales tax
9.06%
#45 of 50 · US 6.66%

Tax Foundation (rates) and WalletHub tax burden study (burden as a share of income), latest releases. Rank 1 = lowest. Income tax is the top marginal rate including typical local taxes where they apply.

Can the state pay its bills?

Credit rating
AA
S&P / Moody's
Rainy-day fund
9.2%
of spending · #30 of 50
Pensions funded
72%
of obligations · #31 of 50
Debt per resident
$2,560
state debt · #21 of 50

Fiscal health scores 58.4 out of 100, #27 of 50. Pew Fiscal 50, Census state finances and the rating agencies, latest releases.

Editor's note

Oklahoma's mix is high sales tax, with income and property taxes in the middle of the pack: an income tax topping out at 4.75%, property tax at 0.85%, 0.2 points below the national average, and a combined sales tax of 9.06%, #45. The state dropped its share of sales tax on groceries, but cities and counties still charge theirs. Social Security is exempt, and older homeowners under an income cap can freeze taxable value. For a high earner it is ordinary; for a fixed-income homeowner, kind; for a renter in a high-rate city, sales tax is the whole story.

  • Fiscal health rankings →
  • Best states for retirees →

Is Oklahoma safe?

Oklahoma reports 408 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 24% above the national average and #39 of 50 (1 = safest). Property crime runs 1,814 per 100,000, 18% above the national average (#42 of 50). The safety score is 56.4 out of 100, #41 of 50; among tracked cities, Bixby has the lowest violent crime rate.

Oklahoma vs. the United States, per 100,000 residents

Violent crime#39 of 50
OK
408
US
328
Property crime#42 of 50
OK
1,814
US
1,535

FBI state crime estimates, latest release. US is the mean of the 50 states; blue = below it, terracotta = above it. Florida and North Dakota use the FBI's prior-year estimate because their latest year is based on limited data.

Safest tracked cities in Oklahoma

CityPopulationViolent / 100KProperty / 100K
Edmond96,8251391,118
Broken Arrow118,1801981,082
Moore63,4202301,405
Norman129,6722431,813
Midwest City58,2973452,278

Lowest violent crime among the 20 Oklahoma cities we track with 50,000 or more residents. City rates come from each city's police agency and are not strictly comparable across agencies.

Editor's note

Violent crime in Oklahoma runs 24% above the national average at 408 per hundred thousand, and the map is Tulsa and Oklahoma City proper plus Ardmore and Muskogee, big numbers for their size. The suburbs collapse the rate: Bixby, Jenks and Owasso around Tulsa post the lowest tracked violent crime, as do Edmond and Yukon near Oklahoma City. Property crime at 1,814 follows the same lines. Buy by suburb, not metro.

  • Safety rankings →
  • Best states for families →

What is the job market like in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma's unemployment rate is 3.4%, 0.6 points below the national average and #14 of 50 (1 = lowest), and the median household earns $66,148, 18% below the national median. Real GDP grew +1.6% in the latest year (#34 of 50) and GDP per capita is $55,709, 13% below the national average. The population is growing 0.62% a year, 0.1 points above the national average. The economy score is 42.2 out of 100, #33 of 50.

Median household income
$66,148
#45 of 50 · US $80,903
Unemployment rate
3.4%
#14 of 50 · US 3.95%
GDP per capita
$55,709
#39 of 50 · US $64,333
Real GDP growth
+1.6%
#34 of 50 · US +1.91%
Population growth
+0.62%
#18 of 50 · US +0.51%

Census Bureau ACS (income), BLS LAUS (unemployment), BEA (GDP), Census population estimates (growth), latest releases.

Highest-paying tracked occupations in Oklahoma, adjusted for cost of living

OccupationCost-adjustedMedian wageMetro
Family Medicine Physicians$223,792$196,937Tulsa
Lawyers$150,260$132,229Oklahoma City
Software Developers$132,359$116,476Oklahoma City
Computer Systems Analysts$106,759$93,948Oklahoma City
General & Operations Managers$102,376$90,091Oklahoma City

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, latest release, for the 20 occupations we track. Cost-adjusted wage divides the metro median by its cost of living index.

Editor's note

Oil and gas sign the biggest checks. Devon and Continental anchor Oklahoma City; ONEOK and Williams anchor Tulsa; Cushing stores the benchmark crude. Around them sit Tinker Air Force Base, Fort Sill, the American Airlines maintenance base in Tulsa and western wind farms. The Cherokee, Choctaw and Chickasaw nations are major employers in the east. Among tracked metros, family medicine physicians in Tulsa earn the highest cost-adjusted wage, $196,937. Unemployment is 3.4%, 0.6 points below the national average, but the median household earns $66,148, 18% below the national median, because plains towns pay farm wages.

  • Economy rankings →
  • Wages by occupation and metro →

How are Oklahoma's schools and healthcare?

Oklahoma's education score is 30.2 out of 100, #48 of 50. Eighth graders average 265 in NAEP math (#45 of 50) and 249 in reading (#47 of 50), and the high school graduation rate is 80%, 5.6 points below the national average (#46 of 50).

Education score
30.2
#48 of 50 · US 57.5
Graduation rate
80%
#46 of 50 · US 85.6%
NAEP math, grade 8
265
#45 of 50 · US 273 · grade 4: 233
NAEP reading, grade 8
249
#47 of 50 · US 257 · grade 4: 207

Best public school cities we track, by graduation rate

CityGrad rateStudents / teacherPer pupil
Bixby95%17.9$9,662
Edmond94%18$9,439
Jenks92%17.9$10,187

NCES Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey, latest release. Cities with at least three schools.

Editor's note

Oklahoma graduates 80%, 5.6 points below the national average, and ranks #48 for education, on funding and teacher pay that trail the region. Bixby posts the highest graduation rate of any tracked city, Edmond and Jenks just behind. Oklahoma City and Tulsa proper graduate far fewer, and the suburban ring exists because of that gap. The state's private-school tuition tax credit is among the broadest anywhere. Districts, not city limits, decide the school.

  • Education rankings →

Oklahoma is #48 of 50 for health, with a life expectancy of 73.8 years, 3.1 years below the national average. 36.8% of adults have obesity (#37 of 50) and 11.5% of residents have no health insurance (#48 of 50). The health score is 26.7 out of 100, weighted 12% of the composite.

Health score
26.7
#48 of 50 · US 54.4
Life expectancy
73.8 years
#46 of 50 · US 76.9 years
Adults with obesity
36.8%
#37 of 50 · US 34%
Uninsured
11.5%
#48 of 50 · US 7.6%

CDC National Center for Health Statistics (state life tables), CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (obesity), and Census Bureau American Community Survey (health insurance), latest releases.

Editor's note

Oklahoma ranks #48 for health and life expectancy is 73.8 years, 3.1 years below the national average. Medicaid expansion by ballot helped, yet 11.5% of residents still lack coverage, #48 of 50, and smoking and obesity run above national rates. The two metros have the specialists; the Panhandle drives an hour or more. Median AQI of 46 ranks #49. For anyone with a chronic condition, distance to care matters before price.

  • Health rankings →

Who is moving to Oklahoma, and who is leaving?

Oklahoma gained a net 5,414 households from other states in the latest IRS release: 45,591 moved in and 40,177 moved out, +1.3 per 1,000 residents (#17 of 50). Arriving households report an average income of $59,003 against $60,448 for those leaving. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey, which counts people rather than households, shows a net +33.9K people (106.6K in, 72.7K out, ±10.8K), consistent with the IRS direction.

Households moving in
45,591
top origin Texas
Households moving out
40,177
top destination Texas
Net per 1,000 residents
+1.3
#17 of 50 · +5,414 households
Avg income, arrivals
$59,003
leavers $60,448 · leavers earn more

Where they come from

  1. 1Texas11,582 · $63,314
  2. 2California4,207 · $62,421
  3. 3Arkansas2,929 · $47,085
  4. 4Kansas2,651 · $56,162
  5. 5Colorado2,278 · $68,643

Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households arrived from these states in the latest IRS release.

Where they go

  1. 1Texas10,157 · $65,713
  2. 2Arkansas2,953 · $45,279
  3. 3Kansas2,280 · $53,424
  4. 4Florida2,213 · $77,390
  5. 5California2,178 · $53,776

Households and their average income. Click a state to compare it head to head; households left for these states in the latest IRS release.

Editor's note

Oklahoma gains households on net, +5,414, +1.3 per thousand residents (#17), and the flow is a Texas exchange: Texas sends the most and takes the most. Arrivals report $59,003, 24% below the national average, and leavers $60,448, a working-class migration, not a wealth transfer. California and Colorado send households escaping housing costs; Arkansas and Kansas trade at lower incomes. That fits Dallas commuters and remote workers chasing a 3.4x price-to-income ratio, not a job.

  • All Oklahoma migration flows →
  • State-by-state migration →

Where should you live in Oklahoma?

By composite score, the best of the 20 Oklahoma cities we track are Bixby (66.9), Jenks (64.9), and Edmond (63.7). Stillwater is the cheapest (cost index 83.6), Jenks the richest ($111,004), and Bixby the fastest growing (+2.9% a year). City ranks are among the 20 Oklahoma cities we cover, not every city in the state.

Standout cities in Oklahoma

Best forCityMeasure
SafestBixby80 violent crimes per 100K
CheapestStillwatercost of living index 83.6
Most walkableTulsawalkability 12.4 of 20
Cleanest airArdmoremedian AQI 32 (county)
Best schoolsBixby95% graduation rate
RichestJenks$111,004

Among the 20 Oklahoma cities we track. Safest uses a full year of FBI reports from the city's own police agency; air quality is measured by county, so cities in the same county share a reading.

Editor's note

Regions of Oklahoma

Oklahoma City metro

State government, energy headquarters, Tinker and the university in Norman; Edmond, Yukon and Moore are the suburbs families pick, and Moore sits on the most-struck tornado track in the country.

Oklahoma CityEdmondNormanMooreYukonMidwest CityShawnee
Tulsa metro

Pipelines, aviation maintenance and the Arkansas River; Jenks, Bixby, Broken Arrow and Owasso are the highest-scoring tracked cities in the state, with schools to match the incomes.

TulsaJenksBixbyBroken ArrowOwasso
Green Country (the northeast)

Hills, lakes and the Cherokee Nation; Bartlesville is the old Phillips company town, Muskogee is much cheaper with higher crime, and the scenery is the reason people stay.

BartlesvilleMuskogee
Southwest Oklahoma and Fort Sill

Lawton is a military town with the state's cheapest houses and its lowest graduation rate; Duncan and Ardmore are oil-patch towns on the road to Texas.

LawtonDuncanArdmore
The plains and the northwest

Wheat, cattle, wind turbines and the biggest sky in the state; Enid is the cheapest tracked city, Ponca City the old refinery town, Stillwater the college town.

EnidPonca CityStillwater

All 20 tracked cities, best to worst

#CityGradeScorePopulationIncomeViolent / 100KCost index
1Bixby
A
66.930,155$104,4048089.2
2Jenks
A
64.927,102$111,0049989.2
3Edmond
A
63.796,825$103,18313990.4
4Owasso
B+
60.840,151$79,03612389.2
5Broken Arrow
B+
60.5118,180$86,76519889.2
6Yukon
B
58.025,529$75,27329390.4
7Moore
B
56.663,420$80,42023090.4
8Norman
C+
55.3129,672$67,70424390.4
9Stillwater
C+
53.349,269$43,70020283.6
10Oklahoma City
C
51.1697,125$68,65668190.4
11Midwest City
C
51.158,297$57,52034590.4
12Bartlesville
C
50.137,878$58,86935283.6
13Enid
C
49.850,653$62,12557284.3
14Shawnee
C
49.131,671$55,81548383.6
15Ponca City
D
48.424,326$55,94150083.6
16Tulsa
D
47.3413,794$59,83883389.2
17Duncan
D
45.522,958$58,05435683.6
18Ardmore
D
44.024,877$53,9001,05083.6
19Lawton
D
42.790,595$54,43376985.9
20Muskogee
F
39.636,758$50,21384683.6

Swipe the table sideways for more columns. Rank is among the 20 Oklahoma cities we track: every city of 50,000 or more, plus the state's other largest places. City scores use city-level Census, FBI, BLS, CDC, EPA and NCES data, and a category with no city data is left out of the score rather than filled with the state's figure.

Best cities in Oklahoma for…

#CityScoreEducationSafetyAffordability
1Bixby68.453.097.573.1
2Jenks67.350.993.370.9
3Edmond64.351.489.972.2
4Owasso64.346.591.378.4
5Broken Arrow62.444.286.577.5
All Oklahoma cities for families →Best states for families →
  • All 1,312 cities →

Who is Oklahoma best for?

The same 11 category scores, re-weighted for six kinds of household. Rank is among the 50 states; click through for the best Oklahoma cities for each.

Families
#46of 50
Best Oklahoma cities →
Retirees
#41of 50
Best Oklahoma cities →
Remote Workers
#21of 50
Best Oklahoma cities →
Young Professionals
#26of 50
Best Oklahoma cities →
Small Business
#28of 50
Best Oklahoma cities →
Outdoor Enthusiasts
#42of 50
Best Oklahoma cities →
Oklahoma fits
  • Remote workers with an out-of-state salary: Oklahoma ranks #21 for them against a cost index of 87.8.
  • Energy and aviation careers: Oklahoma City and Tulsa pay industry wages against a 3.4x price-to-income ratio.
  • First-time buyers: the typical home takes $65,093 in income to buy, 35% below the national average.
Oklahoma does not fit
  • Households that rely on transit: 0.3% of commuters use it, #47 of 50.
  • Families ranking schools first: education ranks #48 and the families persona #46.
  • Anyone who cannot live with siren season: spring tornadoes are an annual event in the metros, and the disaster index is 17% above the national average.

Weights differ by household: families lean on education, safety and housing; retirees on fiscal health, healthcare and cost. See the weights →

How does Oklahoma compare with its neighbors?

Oklahoma ranks #43. Among its bordering states, Colorado ranks highest (#18) and New Mexico lowest (#49). Arkansas is the most similar on the composite score and Colorado the most different. Bordering states are listed best to worst; the national line is the mean of the 50 states.

StateOverallScoreMedian incomeTypical homeCost indexViolent crimeTax burdenCompare
Oklahoma#4343.0$66,148$223,26187.84087.01%
Colorado#1864.7$97,113$532,748103.14228.73%Compare →
Kansas#2755.1$75,514$249,60390.14579.33%Compare →
Texas#3252.2$79,721$299,36797.13457.77%Compare →
Missouri#3451.0$71,589$267,87990.84187.83%Compare →
Arkansas#4840.1$62,106$227,26486.95328.61%Compare →
New Mexico#4930.6$67,816$318,24192.26229.62%Compare →
United States—57.9$80,903$368,6971003288.74%

Overall rank, median income, cost index and tax burden columns are shown on wider screens.

People also compare
Oklahoma vs. California →Oklahoma vs. Florida →
Other South states
  • Virginia#15
  • Florida#21
  • North Carolina#23
  • Tennessee#24
  • Georgia#26
  • South Carolina#36
  • Alabama#37
  • Kentucky#41
  • West Virginia#44
  • Mississippi#46
  • Louisiana#50
Editor's note

Oklahoma vs Texas is the only comparison searched, and the border towns ran the numbers: no income tax south of the Red River, cheaper houses and lower property tax north of it. Ardmore and Durant sell land to Dallas exurbanites, and Lake Texoma is a shared weekend economy.

  • Compare Oklahoma with any state →

How the score works

Eleven categories, each scored 0–100 and weighted into one composite. Grades follow rank.

The weights

Economy 15% · Safety 12% · Health 12% · Education 12% · Affordability 10% · Fiscal Health 8% · Growth 7% · Transportation 7% · Livability 7% · Outdoor Access 6% · Environment 4%. The composite is the weighted sum, stretched linearly so states spread across most of the 0–100 range.

From raw numbers to scores

Every raw measure is placed on a 0–100 scale between a fixed floor and ceiling, inverted where lower is better (crime, cost, taxes), then combined within its category. The same scale applies to every state.

Letter grades

Grades follow rank, not score: A+ for ranks 1–5, A for 6–10, B+ for 11–18, B for 19–26, C+ for 27–34, C for 35–42, D for 43–48, F for 49–50. A C+ state is not failing; it is in the middle third.

Cities, budgets and neighbors

The 20 Oklahoma city scores, the household budgets and the neighbor table on this page are computed from the same sources as the state score. City ranks are among the cities we track, not all cities in the state.

Editor's notes

Passages marked as editor's notes are written for this state and add context the numbers cannot: regions, tradeoffs, who the state fits. Every figure inside them is pulled from the data at build time, so the words cannot drift from the numbers.

Always the latest release

Each source is the most recent release its agency has published. The page is rebuilt when a source updates, so the score can move without any change in the state itself.

What the score cannot tell you

Weather and climate, culture and pace, politics beyond the Cook index shown for context, the quality of a specific school, hospital or neighborhood, job prospects in your field, and anything without a public, comparable, 50-state source. Statewide averages also hide the metro-versus-rural split, which is why the editor's notes name places.

Category briefs

Economy: Unemployment rate and median household income. Safety: Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. Health: Health outcomes, behaviors, and access to care. Education: K-12 school quality, test scores, and graduation rates. Full methodology →

Key takeaways

What the Oklahoma numbers say when read together.

  1. 01

    Affordability is Oklahoma's strongest suit

    Oklahoma is a #43 state overall but #4 of 50 for affordability, 39 places better than its composite rank, with a score of 88.6 against a national average of 65.2. Growth (#15) is next. Affordability carries 10% of the composite.

  2. 02

    Health is where Oklahoma falls furthest behind

    Oklahoma ranks #48 of 50 for health, 5 places below its overall #43, with a score of 26.7 against a national average of 54.4. At 12% of the composite, it is the category holding the overall score down most.

  3. 03

    Typical home value is 39% below the national average

    Oklahoma's typical home value is $223,261, 39% below the national average of $368,697, #4 of 50 (1 = cheapest). The largest gap in the other direction is violent crime rate: 408, 24% above the national average. Source: Zillow Research ZHVI, latest release.

  4. 04

    More households arrive than leave

    Oklahoma ranks #17 of 50 on net household flow per 1,000 residents (+1.3). The households arriving report $1,445 less in average income than those leaving ($59,003 against $60,448), so the state is trading down on income even as the headcount grows. Texas is both the largest source and the largest destination.

  5. 05

    A middle income stretches further here than in most states

    A family of four earning $75,000 ends the year at a $5,197 surplus after housing, childcare, utilities, groceries, transport and taxes, against a $11,758 shortfall in the median state (#6 of 50). A single adult on the same income comes out at a $37,262 surplus; a retiree couple at a $42,644 surplus. Infant childcare runs $11,012 a year, 30% below the national average.

  6. 06

    Oklahoma sits 5th among its 7-state neighborhood

    4 of Oklahoma's 6 bordering states rank above its #43; the closest match on the composite is Arkansas. Median income among them runs from $62,106 in Arkansas to $97,113 in Colorado; Oklahoma is at $66,148.

Editor's note

The tradeoff

+Income needed to buy the typical home is $65,093, #7 lowest in the country.

−Hail and tornado exposure keep homeowners premiums high relative to those home values.

+Total tax burden of 7.01% ranks #9 lowest, with Social Security exempt.

−Combined sales tax of 9.06% ranks #45, and cities still tax groceries.

+Unemployment of 3.4% runs 0.6 points below the national average on energy and military payrolls.

−Health ranks #48 and life expectancy of 73.8 years is 3.1 years below the national average.

Frequently asked questions about living in Oklahoma

Is Oklahoma a good place to live?

Oklahoma ranks #43 of 50 with a D grade, #10 of 14 in the South. It is top 10 in affordability and bottom 10 in safety, health, and education. On the six headline measures it beats the national figure on 4 of 6 (home prices, cost of living, unemployment, and tax burden) and trails on income and violent crime. Whether that adds up to a good place to live depends on what you weigh; the household rankings below re-weight the same numbers for families, retirees and remote workers.

Where does Oklahoma rank among US states?

Oklahoma ranks #43 of 50 overall with a composite score of 43 (grade D), and #10 of 14 states in the South. Its best category rank is #4 (affordability) and its worst #48 (health). The composite weights eleven categories, with economy, safety, health and education counting most; grades follow rank, so D means rank 43–48.

Is it expensive to live in Oklahoma?

At #4 of 50 for cost of living (1 = cheapest), Oklahoma is 12% below the national average: its index is 87.8 against a national baseline of 100. The typical home value is $223,261 (39% below the national average), and buying it takes an income of about $65,093 against a median household income of $66,148. At $75,000, a family of four comes out at a $5,197 surplus after all costs, #6 of 50 (1 = most left over).

Does Oklahoma have a state income tax?

Yes. Oklahoma's top state income tax rate is 4.75% (#20 of 50, 1 = lowest), and the total state and local tax burden is 7.01% of income, 1.7 points below the national average. Property tax is 0.85% of home value and combined sales tax 9.06%.

What is the crime rate in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma reports 408 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 24% above the national average and #39 of 50 (1 = safest), and 1,814 property crimes per 100,000, 18% above the national average (#42). Its safety score is 56.4 out of 100, #41 of 50. Figures are FBI estimates from the latest release.

Does Oklahoma have good schools?

Oklahoma is #48 of 50 for education (score 30.2 out of 100). Its public school students average 265 in eighth-grade math on NAEP (#45) and 249 in eighth-grade reading (#47), and the high school graduation rate is 80%, 5.6 points below the national average (#46). Among tracked cities with at least three schools, Bixby has the highest graduation rate at 95%.

Why are people moving to Oklahoma?

Oklahoma gained a net 5,414 households in the latest IRS release: 45,591 moved in and 40,177 moved out, +1.3 per 1,000 residents (#17 of 50). The largest source of arrivals is Texas (11,582 households) and the most common destination is Texas (10,157). Arriving households report an average income of $59,003 against $60,448 for those leaving, so movers out earn more than movers in. The IRS files count tax returns and say nothing about motives.

Is Oklahoma a red or blue state?

Oklahoma is a solidly red state: its Cook Partisan Voting Index is R+20, meaning it votes about 20 points more Republican than the country as a whole. The political lean is shown for context and is not part of the composite score.

Does Oklahoma get tornadoes?

Yes, more per square mile than almost anywhere, peaking April through June. The Oklahoma City metro, Moore and Norman especially, sits on the most-struck ground anywhere; Tulsa gets fewer. FEMA's index for the state is 34.6, 17% above the national average, and hail is the more common insurance claim. Storm shelters, impact-rated shingles and a deductible you can pay are part of the price of a cheap house.

What are the downsides of living in Oklahoma?

Health and public services, mostly. Health ranks #48, safety #41 and education #48. Sales tax at 9.06% is high and covers groceries. Summers are hot, springs violent, and the air index of 46 ranks #49. Public land is 2.2% of the state and transit is nonexistent. None of it shows in the cost of living index, which is why it looks so good.

Is Oklahoma a good place to retire?

Below average: retirees rank #41. The tax side is friendly: Social Security is exempt, older homeowners under an income cap can freeze taxable home value, and a retiree couple at $75,000 comes out at a $42,644 surplus, #5 of 50. The health side is not: #48, with specialists concentrated in the two metros. Edmond or Broken Arrow gets both halves; a plains town gets the cheap half.

What are the biggest industries in Oklahoma?

Oil and gas, then the military and aerospace. Oklahoma City hosts energy headquarters, Tinker Air Force Base and state government; Tulsa hosts pipeline companies and the American Airlines maintenance base; Cushing is the crude storage hub. Wind farms supply 52% of the state's electricity, and the tribal nations are major employers in the east. family medicine physicians in Tulsa earn the best cost-adjusted wage, $196,937.

Is Oklahoma cheaper than Texas?

Yes on almost every line except income tax. The cost index is 87.8 against a higher Texas figure, the typical home costs 39% below the national average, and property tax at 0.85% is well below the Texas rate. Texas has no income tax; Oklahoma tops out at 4.75%. For a household near the median, Oklahoma wins; for a high earner who rents, Texas does.

All the numbers

Every metric behind Oklahoma's 11 category scores, with the national figure beside each. Pick a category.

Median Household Income
$66,148
Census ACS · Nat'l avg: $80,903
Unemployment Rate
3.4%
BLS LAUS · Nat'l avg: 3.9%
Population Growth
+0.62%
Census, year over year · Nat'l avg: +0.5%
42.2Economy Score · National avg: 47.1
Violent Crime Rate
407.7
per 100K · FBI estimate · Nat'l avg: 313
Property Crime Rate
1,813.5
per 100K · FBI estimate · Nat'l avg: 1,475
56.4Safety Score · National avg: 68.9
Life Expectancy
73.8 yr
CDC NCHS · Nat'l avg: 76.9 yr
Adults With Obesity
36.8%
CDC BRFSS · Nat'l avg: 34%
Uninsured
11.5%
Census ACS · Nat'l avg: 7.6%
26.7Health Score · National avg: 54.4
HS Graduation Rate
80%
EDFacts · Nat'l avg: 85.6%
NAEP Math, 8th Grade
265
Nation's Report Card · Nat'l avg: 273
NAEP Reading, 8th Grade
249
Nation's Report Card · Nat'l avg: 257
30.2Education Score · National avg: 57.5
GDP Per Capita
$55,709
BEA · Nat'l avg: $64,333
GDP Growth Rate
+1.6%
Real, year over year · Nat'l avg: +1.9%
Credit Rating
AA
S&P / Moody's, latest
Fiscal Score
58.4
of 100 · Nat'l avg: 58.1
Budget Balance
+5.8%
Surplus · % of revenue · NASBO
State Debt Per Capita
$2,560
Census state finances · Nat'l avg: $3,506
Rainy Day Fund
9.2%
of expenditures · Pew Fiscal 50
Pension Funded Ratio
72%
Pew · Nat'l avg: 74.3%
Tax Burden
7.01%
of income · Nat'l avg: 8.74%
Income Tax Rate
4.75%
Top rate, state + local
Property Tax Rate
0.85%
Effective rate · Nat'l avg: 1.02%
Sales Tax Rate
9.06%
State + local avg · Nat'l avg: 6.66%
58.4Fiscal Health Score · National avg: 58.1
Typical Home Value
$223,261
Latest month · Nat'l avg: $383,360
Cost of Living Index
87.8
BEA Regional Price Parity · National = 100
Price-to-Income Ratio
3.4x
Home value ÷ median income · Nat'l avg: 4.6x
Electricity
13.12¢/kWh
EIA
Natural Gas
$13.99/Mcf
EIA
Gasoline
$3.04/gal
EIA
Infant Care (Center)
$11,012/yr
Child Care Aware of America
Goods Prices
93.8
BEA price level for goods · US = 100
88.6Affordability Score · National avg: 65.2
Air Quality Index
46
EPA annual median · Nat'l avg: 38.8
Renewable Energy
52%
EIA, % of electricity · Nat'l avg: 29%
Natural Disaster Risk
34.6
FEMA NRI per capita · Nat'l avg: 30
37.3Environment Score · National avg: 42.5
Public Land
2.2%
of state area · USGS PAD-US
Recreation Facilities
2.61
per 10K residents · Census CBP
Park Acreage per Capita
0
NPS acres per resident
12.7Outdoor Access Score · National avg: 29.4
Mean Commute Time
22.7 min
Mean travel time to work · Census ACS
60+ Min Commute
5.1%
of workers · Census ACS
Drive Alone
76.8%
of commuters · Census ACS
Public Transit Use
0.3%
of commuters · Census ACS
Walk / Bicycle
2.0%
active commuters · Census ACS
Work From Home
8.9%
of workers · Census ACS
Vehicle Miles Traveled
11,337
per capita · FHWA
Carpool Rate
10.6%
of commuters · Census ACS
47.1Transportation Score · National avg: 49.8
Restaurants per 1K
1.669
Census County Business Patterns
Arts & Entertainment
0.016
per 1K residents · Census CBP
Social Associations
0.057
per 1K residents · Census CBP
Bars & Breweries
0.091
per 1K residents · Census CBP
26.7Livability Score · National avg: 34.3
Net Domestic Migration
+3.5
per 1,000 residents · Nat'l avg: +1.1
Migration Trend
Gaining
More people moving in than out
Broadband Subscription
92.1%
Households, any type · Census ACS · Nat'l avg: 92.7%
Households Moving In
45.6K
Top origin: Texas
Households Moving Out
40.2K
Top destination: Texas
48.9Growth Score · National avg: 38.8

Also consulted for the Oklahoma editor's notes

  • Oklahoma Tax Commission: state sales tax exemption for food and food ingredients (local taxes still apply) ↗