Moving to Oklahoma? Sooners, Red Dirt, Low Rent, And Lake Weekends
Last Modified: December 18, 2025
Are you tired of reading Oklahoma moving guides that feel more like geography textbooks, stuffed with census stats and no personality? Oklahoma life can't be summed up by average weather charts (think twisters, ice, and oven heat) or simple demographic stats (since they'd obviously miss the nuance of OU vs OSU Bedlam-split households). Oklahoma offers plains, tundra, and desert locales with something interesting for just about anyone. If you love open skies and fresh air you can actually breathe in, small town kindness, or Route 66 diners slinging onion burgers at midnight, the Sooner State might just be calling to you. You can spend time stargazing without light pollution or take in a play, opera, or ballet at a performing arts center. Whatever sparks your interest, there's a good chance someplace in Oklahoma provides something for you. Our playful and witty moving guide will prepare you for the good (sunsets over red dirt that stop you mid-sentence) and the bad (wind that turns your hair into modern art) so you'll actually know what it's REALLY like to live, work, and play in Oklahoma.
Snappy Summary: Oklahoma offers lower-cost living through affordable homes, low taxes, and jobs in energy and aerospace. You can see for miles with open skies, enjoy block parties with friendly neighbors, and have easy access to lakes and trails. But you trade all that for tornado and ice seasons, harsh summer heat, lower wages, uneven schools, car-heavy commutes, and limited transit. However, people keep coming for the chance to buy a home, stretch a paycheck, and find real community.
Hey, I'm Shana
I’ve been living life in Oklahoma for 43 straight years, collecting local shortcuts and moving stories along the way. I’ve moved more than 10 times across Oklahoma and learned adulthood the hard way when a DIY move ended with a couch wedged on a second-story railing and my dignity hanging in the balance. I won that battle… barely, and now smartly choose to hire professionals that actually know what they're doing. I love that throughout Oklahoma you can easily run errands, grab groceries, then be five minutes from cow pastures and wide open land. At Snappy Scout, I turn 43 years of red dirt living into actionable wisdom to share what it’s really like to move to and live in Oklahoma.
Shana GrandstaffOklahoma Local ExpertThe Inside Scoop on Oklahoma Cities
Major Cities In A Nutshell
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City is perfect for: big jobs, cheap closets, endless suburbs
Best known for: Thunder basketball and oilfield ambition
City as a personality: friendly striver wearing boots and a blazer
Locals live here because: salaries stretch, sane commutes, neighbors wave
Locals swear by: Braum's runs and frontyard tornado talk
Home sweet home in Oklahoma City is like: ranch sprawl, new builds, surprise midcentury gems
Don't say we didn't warn you about: wind that slaps faces
What you'll wear most often: Sports tees and weatherproof everything
Tulsa
Tulsa, perfect for: artsy energy, river trails, oil money history
Well known for: art deco sparkle and Greenwood grit
Tulsa in human form is: a jazz collector with trail shoes
Move here for: strong salaries, short commutes, secret foodie scene
Locals know best: QuikTrip runs and Woodward Park charm
Your housing options here are: red brick bungalows, midtown charm, suburban castles
The downsides are: pollen, potholes, and river gnats
Local fashion forecast: trail shorts, vintage tees, boots for brunch
Norman
Norman is perfect for: college town pride, calm neighborhoods, and good schools
Widely recognized as the place for: OU Saturdays, research jobs, and meteorologists
If Norman were a person, it'd be: professor in crimson sneakers
Move here if you want: schools, sidewalks, and steady routines
Nothing's more Norman than: Boomer Sooner chants in checkout lines
Housing vibe: 60s ranches, tidy cul-de-sacs, student rentals
The downside to Norman is: traffic on game days, everywhere, all day long
What you'll wear most often: crimson gear and rain-ready sandals
Stillwater
Stillwater, perfect for: orange pride, easy living, townie loyalty
Best known for: OSU spirit and Eskimo Joe's cheese fries
City as a personality: ag major with a record collection
Move here for: walkable campus area and friendly landlords
Locals swear by: Saturday tailgates and Hideaway pizza (Maui Magic is where it's at!)
Your housing options here are: student apartments, ranch homes, quiet streets
Be prepared for: orange everywhere and late-night train horns
The dress code here is: Cowboy hats, orange tees and boots for chores
Lawton
Lawton is perfect for: military families and prairie sunsets
Well known for: Fort Sill rhythms and Wichita Mountains escapes
Lawton in human form is: tough sergeant with soft heart
Locals live here because: low costs, steady gigs, open skies
Locals know best: field training schedules and Sonic happy hour
Home sweet home in Lawton is like: brick ranches, base housing, wide yards
Don't be surprised, we warned you that: wind plus dust equals scrubbing and lots of it
What you'll wear most often: camo, jeans, and windproof jackets
Enid
Enid: small city pace with barn-raising neighbors
Widely recognized as the place for: wheat, Vance jets, generous churches
City as a personality: friendly pilot with mud on boots
Move here if you want: easy commutes, house-sized yards, and down-home community
Nothing's more Enid than: wheat harvest parades and church potlucks
Your housing options here are: farmhouses, brick ranches, modest new builds
The downsides are: dust storms, small dating pool and blizzards
Local fashion forecast: ball caps, work boots, Sunday best
Eat Like a Local
Our state dish was selected because it is the truth. We eat chicken fried steak, usually served with mashed potatoes and fried okra, and covered in cream gravy.
Shana GrandstaffOklahoma Local Expert
Fun Facts
Fun Facts You Might Not Have Known About Oklahoma
Think you really know Oklahoma? It's a state with Tornado Alley tantrums that could redecorate the sky, onion burgers that you'll have to devour to appreciate, and Tallgrass bison herds that are staring down your picnic. Let's run through the facts, stats, and twister etiquette that showcase what makes Oklahoma's Sooner spirit hard to top.
- Common nicknames for Oklahoma: The Sooner State, Okies
- Local Reality Check: Cowboy plains? Try suburbs with tornado shelters, OKC dining, Tulsa art deco, lakes.
- You're most likely moving from: Texas, California, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri
- Strangely large concentration of: Sonic Drive-In stalls, church steeples, tribal headquarters, wind farms.
- Music scene: Red Dirt roots, Tulsa Sound, Cain's Ballroom legends, Woody Guthrie vibes.
- You'll have to see it to believe it: Catoosa's Blue Whale roadside charm, bison roaming Tallgrass Prairie, and kitschy stops along Route 66..
- Unique Geography: Great Plains to Ozark Mountains, Red River breaks, salt flats, over 200 artificial lakes.
- Oklahoma is home to: Cherokee Nation capital, OKC Thunder, National Cowboy Museum, OU and OSU powerhouses.
- Well known for its: Tornado season, red clay dirt, Route 66 kitsch, oil booms, chicken fried steak.
- Fun history fact: The Land Run of 1889 opened the Unassigned Lands to settlers at noon.
- Celebrity sightings: Garth Brooks in Yukon, Blake Shelton at Ole Red, Bill Hader visiting Tulsa, Leonardo DiCaprio filming in Pawhuska.
- Noteworthy Census stat: 2020 Census: 3.96M residents. 2023 estimate passed 4.0M.
- Most interesting sub-culture within Oklahoma: Storm chasers broadcasting live from gravel roads every spring.
- Population: 28th by population, 20th by land size
- Oklahoma is roughly the same geographic size as: Cambodia
Locals Know Best
Don't sleep on the top-notch BBQ joints littered throughout the state.
Shana GrandstaffOklahoma Local ExpertMost Likely Personalities to Love (or Hate) Oklahoma
Is Oklahoma right for me? If you're a cowboy, you'll love the plethora of rodeos and ranches. Adventure junkies can hike to their heart's content or compete in Tulsa Tough. Homesteaders will find that the land and climate make an excellent base for growing crops and raising animals (ask Jennifer Garner!) If you're a surfer dude, a beach bum, or a Wall Street exec, you'll swap ocean swells for Lake Hefner breezes and rush hour traffic for Bricktown happy hours.
Personality Fit Guide
| Personality | % | Recommended Cities | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboy | 96% | Oklahoma City, Guymon, Woodward | Stockyards City rodeos, Guymon Pioneer Days, prairie sunsets |
| Homesteader | 92% | Stillwater, Guthrie, McAlester | Acreage, chicken coops, OSU Extension knows every seed |
| Adventure Junkie | 90% | Lawton, Broken Bow, Davis | Wichita Mountains climbs, Broken Bow boating, Turkey Mountain trails |
| Retired Military | 88% | Lawton, Midwest City | Fort Sill camaraderie, Tinker AFB support, Thunder nights |
| College Student | 86% | Norman, Stillwater, Edmond | OU gamedays, Eskimo Joe's fries, UCO campus concerts |
| Craft Beer Fan | 84% | Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Norman | Prairie Artisan pours, American Solera sours, COOP taproom chatter |
| Stay at Home Mom | 83% | Edmond, Jenks, Norman | Playdates at Gathering Place, Edmond splash pads, school spirit |
| PTA President | 82% | Bixby, Edmond, Yukon | Friday night lights, BOK Center championships, Edmond Santa Fe fundraisers |
| Foodie | 81% | Oklahoma City, Tulsa | Nonesuch tasting menus, Mother Road Market grazing, Cattlemen's steaks |
| Farmer's Market Regular | 80% | Tulsa, Edmond, Norman | Cherry Street market mornings, Scissortail Park farm stands |
| Dog Momma | 78% | Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman | Lake Hefner trails, Gathering Place lawns, Midtown patios |
| Hipster | 77% | Tulsa Arts District, Plaza District, Paseo | Cain's Ballroom concerts, Plaza Walls murals, First Friday Art Crawl |
| DIYer | 75% | Yukon, Moore, Broken Arrow | ReStores galore, Habitat sales, lumber at Mill Creek |
| Vintage Thrifter | 73% | Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Guthrie | Uptown 23rd thrifts, Guthrie antiques, Buck Atom selfies |
| Garden Club Lifetime Member | 72% | Tulsa, Oklahoma City | Philbrook gardens strolls, Myriad Botanical Gardens workshops |
| CrossFit Regular | 70% | Edmond, Tulsa, Oklahoma City | Box communities near Lake Hefner and River Parks runs |
| Yoga Instructor | 66% | Tulsa, Norman, Edmond | Sunrise flows at Scissortail Park and Turkey Mountain |
| Gamer | 65% | Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Stillwater | OKC eSports events, Free Play arcades, OSU gaming clubs |
| Coffee Snob | 64% | Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Guthrie | Elemental espresso shots, Topeca roasts, Hoboken pour overs |
| Binge Shopper | 60% | Oklahoma City, Tulsa | Penn Square splurges, Utica Square strolls, Quail Springs weekends |
| Retired Snowbird | 56% | Lawton, Duncan, Ardmore | Mildish winters, Medicine Park charm, not exactly Scottsdale sun |
| Tech Bro | 54% | Tulsa, Oklahoma City | 36 Degrees North, fintech meetups, cheap Bricktown lofts |
| Minimalist | 45% | Tulsa, Oklahoma City | Clean lines meet sprawl, Plaza District apartments |
| Surfer Dude | 33% | Oklahoma City, Tulsa | Closest waves are wind chop at Lake Hefner or Keystone |
| Wall Street Exec | 32% | Oklahoma City | Devon Tower views, energy deals, not Park Avenue speed |
| Beach Bum | 30% | Grand Lake, Medicine Park, Lake Eufaula | Grand Lake coves, Blue Whale selfies, still no surf |
What Makes Oklahoma Feel Like Home
Being able to see farmland, animals, and open sky from just about anywhere.
Shana GrandstaffOklahoma Local Expert
Things To Do
Fun Things to Do Around Oklahoma
Curious about what you'll do when you live in Oklahoma? If you like the idea of kayaking on glassy lakes, spending time wandering through red canyons, and checking out cruising along Route 66, Oklahoma is calling you home! This list of fun things to do will take you from tallgrass sunsets to neon nights and give you a sampling of Oklahoma's heritage, landscapes, and culture.
- This is the Iconic Road Trip to take: Cruise Route 66 and stop at Pop's in Arcadia, the Blue Whale in Catoosa, and Buck Atom's along the way
- This is the scenic ride for you: Talimena Scenic Byway offers sweeping views between Talihina and Mena and is the go-to for fall foliage beauty
- Go Outside & Hike: Hike Elk Mountain at Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge near Lawton or Turkey Mountain in Tulsa
- Maybe you should go chasing waterfalls: Waterfalls? Turner Falls in Davis, swim below 77 foot cascade
- Spend Time on the Water cooling off: Paddle Broken Bow Lake at Beavers Bend near Hochatown or jet ski from cove to cove at Grand Lake
- Underground Adventure: Descend into Alabaster Caverns State Park near Freedom
- Stargaze in desolate dark nights: Black Mesa is Oklahoma's darkest skies near Kenton (be sure to take a telescope for the best views)
- For the Sports Fans: Catch the OKC Thunder at Paycom Center, OU football in Norman, or Friday night lights at Norman North, Bixby, and Union High Schools
- This is what locals do on the weekends: Tulsa, wander Gathering Place and River Parks trails; OKC, Lake Hefner
- Pick your own farm to table fare: Pick peaches at Livesay Orchards in Porter each summer or Carmichael's in Bixby year-round
Hidden Gem Spotlight
One of my favorite places is Pony Coffee in Tulsa. It is situated inside an old building that was a bike shop and a photography studio before. It is full of kitschy furniture and memorabilia and serves excellent coffee.
Shana GrandstaffOklahoma Local ExpertTaxes, Politics & People
The Essential Oklahoma Trifecta
State Income Tax: Progressive brackets, top rate 4.75%
Property Taxes: Low statewide, higher in OKC metro (Oklahoma County) and Tulsa County, rural lowest
Oklahoma politics are: Deep red statewide, OKC and Tulsa trend moderate blue, tribal governance distinct
Oklahomans are: Plainspoken, neighborly, tornado tough, Friday night lights faithful
The religious breakdown is: Mostly Christian Protestant, strong Baptist and Pentecostal, some Catholic, tribal traditions
Weather
Oklahoma Weather: All the Facts, None of the Stats
Is it going to hail, flood, or maybe something worse? The summers feel like a sauna, and the winters are ice storms that glaze everything. Oklahoma weather is moody and always keeps you guessing. Here's what else is going on around Oklahoma that will impact the time you spend outside.
- Summer temps be like: windy oven, extra crispy (triple digits happen all over the state)
- Winter lows are: frigid sneak attacks (OKC shivers, Panhandle blizzards, Tulsa mostly slush)
- The humidity makes me: stick to anything that's vinyl or leather and frizz up like a poodle
- Unique weather patterns: dryline showdowns, wailing tornado sirens, supercell explosions, red dirt dusters, hail that dents your soul, sneaky ice storms
- Local weather fashion tip: hoodie and shorts in the same bag
- Bugs be like: chiggers with PhDs, ticks with an agenda, June bugs on kamikaze shifts
- You're stuck indoors again today because: tornado watch, hail bowling alley and sideways rain
- Green thumb enthusiasts love: Porter peaches, okra that refuses to quit, prairie wildflower carpets, backyard pecans after one good freeze
- Your friend with allergies is always saying: did someone replace the air with ragweed and pollen
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in Oklahoma
Spring: Seeing tulips, daffodils, and irises emerge as everything becomes green again
Summer: Warm nights looking at the stars while listening to music and drinking iced tea
Fall: Looking at the changing leaves on Turkey Mountain, football gameday energy everywhere you go
Winter: Christmas lights everywhere, especially in small towns on Main Street
Shana GrandstaffOklahoma Local Expert