Our Guide to Living in Oklahoma City

Oklahoma is booming, and the economy, job market and growing list of great things to do attest to this reality. At the heart of it all is the state’s capital, an energetic metropolis that is an excellent reflection of the Sooner State. Sure, feel free to visit, but what’s it like living in Oklahoma City? Since Homes by Taber is located here, we’re blessed to know of the incredible quality of life in OKC.

What is there to do in OKC?

In a word, “plenty!” Oklahoma City presents a bounty of leisure activities. Sports are a major attraction and for some, a way of life here. Serving as the central team for all around the state to cheer for, the Oklahoma City Thunder NBA basketball team is a uniting factor amongst all Oklahomans. Whether you grew up cheering for the OU Sooners or the OSU Cowboys, the Thunder is a central ground that OKC can all agree on. The OKC Dodgers, the Triple-A affiliate for the MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers, is the local baseball team for OKC. With its popular Bricktown location, its highly attended games welcome individuals from all over to enjoy.

Art aficionados appreciate the wealth of culture here, including the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Philharmonic, and Ballet. Our western heritage is captured and celebrated by the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, which draws 10 million visitors a year! The 17-acre Myriad Botanical Gardens is always a pleasant place to visit with an abundance of scenery that serves as a backdrop to many photographic opportunities and outdoor events. 

OKC residents also love the Oklahoma City Zoo, ranked one of the top 10 in the country. The kids will also love the Science Museum Oklahoma, Orr Family Farm and OKC’s Adventure District. With plenty of parks and playgrounds throughout the city, as well, you’ll never run out of things to do. 

What are the best areas to visit in OKC?

As soon as you step into the bustling city of OKC, you will quickly realize that there are numerous neighborhoods all around the city that you can’t miss out on. With the population of OKC steadily growing, there are always new communities in development, and some of the established areas around OKC have their own noteworthy attractions and unique settings. 

The Downtown Oklahoma City area gives you so many reasons to wander around. The Bricktown District is a popular destination for shopping, dining, nightlife, family-friendly activities, special events, history and the arts. You can grab a ride on a horse-drawn carriage or board a river cruise for a different perspective on the sights and sounds of Downtown OKC and the surrounding area. 

In Automobile Alley, the motto is Where the Neon Lights are Bright and the district provides diverse opportunities for anyone taking the road less traveled. This area was once OKC’s go-to location to purchase cars but has since been renovated for housing, dining, events, and shopping. It’s near the Oklahoma City Marathon finish line and serves as a popular celebratory spot for race runners and spectators. 

The Paseo Arts District is Oklahoma City’s unique arts destination with more than 20 local art galleries and 80 local artists of all kinds within walking distance. A popular event for OKC on Memorial Day weekend is the Paseo Arts Festival. The streets are blocked off and vendors galore gather to display their handmade crafts and foods. Voted as one of the top events in OKC, this free festival is a much-awaited yearly event. Every first Friday of the month, The Paseo hosts a gallery walk, rain or shine.

The Plaza District is located on 16th Street in OKC. Come out to a monthly block party on each second Friday of the month for Live on the Plaza with live music, artists, and shopping. Featuring some of the trendiest, locally-owned restaurants, shops, theaters, breweries and galleries, this area is popular for everything from date nights to business lunches. 

Midtown can be considered one of the coziest spots in OKC for local bars and attractions. Between the outdoor Food Truck Park, Bleu Garten, the Dust Bowl Lanes and Lounge and the Midtown Mutts Dog Park, this area serves as a place where people (and four-legged friends) of all ages can just relax or play. Pop Up Shops draw a crowd to Midtown as well with local shop owners in OKC. 

What is the climate in OKC?

The climate here gives you four distinct seasons. Summers are filled with an endless array of sunny days. Fall brings a welcome chill into the air and puts you in the mood for donning your favorite sweater, hunting for pumpkins and football tailgating. Winter is cold enough to bring snow (average 7.6 inches a year), but not so unbearable that you yearn for spring thaw. Spring brings the temperature back up to pleasant temps with a little rain thrown in, which boosts the return of the lawns and gardens. The annual temperature in OKC averages a very comfortable 61° F.

Is it expensive to live in OKC?

U.S. News & World Report ranked Oklahoma City as one of the Best Places to Live in the U.S. All of the reasons we’ve cited so far contribute to this high standing. We also have an affordable lifestyle. The cost of living in OKC is 12% lower than the national average. 

The unemployment rate in Oklahoma City hovers around 3%, slightly below the national average. We have a broad range of major employers, including the State of Oklahoma, Tinker Air Force Base, University of Oklahoma, INTEGRIS Health, Boeing, AT&T, Dell, Hertz, UPS and the headquarters for Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores, Paycom, Hobby Lobby, OGE Energy, Sonic and American Fidelity.

All of these factors are important for you to know when you’re thinking of relocating to Oklahoma City. Are you ready to get moving to OKC? Start by looking at Homes by Taber’s communities and new homes for sale in Oklahoma City and the surrounding areas of Choctaw, Edmond, Moore, Mustang, Norman, Piedmont and Yukon. Give us a call at (405) 984-1185 or contact us online today for more information.