In America, turning 30 is a pretty big deal.
Many people refer to the nickname “dirty thirty” when talking about the birthday celebration.
Did you know that term came from an origin that is the very opposite of celebrating?
Nearly a century ago, an enormous dust storm started in the Midwest that went on for the better part of a decade.
“Dirty thirties” was called such based on the inescapable dust that those who lived there were unfortunate enough to experience.
The Dust Bowl took the lives of both livestock and people.
It was caused by extreme overuse of the land.
Much of Oklahoma suffered during this period.
Maybe that’s why the state doesn’t have as huge of a population today as Texas.
Whatever the reason, people are missing out on some very affordable real estate.
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10 Cheapest Places to Live in Oklahoma
1. Stillwater
If you were to take the long way from Oklahoma City to Tulsa, Stillwater would be in the middle.
Only the very center of town is flush with housing development.
That’s sort of a lucky break for those who call Stillwater home.
Citizens are surrounded by nature with Lake McMurtry, Carl Blackwell Lake, and Boomer Lake a short drive away.
The latter of which is downtown.
Rent for a two-bedroom abode will run you around $1,000 a month.
You can also get pretty much everything you’re looking for in a house here for around $200,000.
2. Ada
Ada sits between three separate Native American nations just south of Oklahoma City.
Many of the homes seem to be accumulated in the heart of the city.
Speaking of hearts, the city was named after the daughter of a settler who was essentially a mailman to two local communities.
House prices mainly range from $150,000 to $210,000.
Rentals are in the same spot and are $850 on the lower side, up to $1,200 for a two-bedroom.
3. Elk City
Elk City is a short drive to Texas’ panhandle.
Nearby things to do are Elk City Lake Park, Washita National Wildlife Refuge, and Black Kettle National Grasslands.
There isn’t an overflowing source of homes to choose from.
However, what is available is well under $1,500 for two bedrooms.
When it comes to purchasing, anyone could find a very comfortable dwelling for $125,000 up to $200,000.
4. Ponca City
A few minutes south of the Kansas border, Ponca City was named after the local native tribe.
24,000 Oklahomans call this place home.
Even though the cost of living is low, the town is slowly losing citizens.
That has more to do with being so far from things than a reflection of the town itself.
Most of the homes here are less than $200,000 to own.
If you want to live close to the Arkansas River, though, be prepared to shell out over $800,000 for the best views.
Most two-bedroom rentals are below $900 a month.
5. Lawton
Just north of the Texas border, and south of Oklahoma City, Lawton is in a good location.
It’s far enough from OKC to not have to deal with traffic, but close enough it’s easy to hang out there.
Not that you’d need to for some fresh air, though.
Part of Lawton is the North Mountain Wilderness Area and Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge.
To rent, set aside about $900 a month for a two-bedroom.
To buy, $150,000 to $200,000 should be more than enough to secure a home.
6. Bartlesville
Almost walking distance of the Kansas state line, Bartlesville is due north of Tulsa.
Being close to other places isn’t the only thing the town has going for it.
A lack of traffic is another huge bonus to calling Bartlesville home.
Downtown is the best version of a major city without the hassle a bigger population brings.
From $250,000 to $300,000 is the typical going rate for a home on sale in Bartlesville.
Find a good rental for around $1,000 monthly.
7. Enid
In the top 10 most populated cities in the state, Enid is just a tad closer to the Kansas border than it is to Oklahoma City.
Something you may not know about this town is it has one of the largest poultry markets in the country.
Another fun fact is Enid has had its 15 minutes of fame.
In 2018, the town was featured in a movie starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan called Wildlife.
Rental prices range from $700 up to $1,500.
The median home price is $320,000.
8. Guthrie
A suburb of Oklahoma City, Guthrie is the largest urban historical district in the state.
There must be something going on that has continued to encourage the population into steady growth over the last two decades.
One thing locals love about the downtown is the collection of buildings.
There are more than 2,000 and the area is a National Historic Landmark.
Most homes are within the $200,000 to $400,000 range.
Rentals are typically between $1,200 and $1,800.
9. Edmond
Another suburb of Oklahoma City, Edmond is home to many firsts for the state.
To start, the first church was dedicated in the summer of 1889.
The first newspaper was founded a month later.
One month following that, the first public school was built.
The population continues to rise so that history is possibly attractive to newcomers.
Most rentals start at $1,200 and go up to $2,200.
To buy, most houses are in the high $200,000s and low $300,000s.
10. Tulsa
Tulsa is the second most populated city in Oklahoma.
The downtown looks more like a major city than most other places in the state.
Surprisingly, the home of well over 400,000 citizens has no traffic.
Driving across town, you might think maybe you just caught Tulsa on an off day.
No, it’s just that easy to get around.
So, yes, you get the amenities of a big city with the traffic of a small town.
A majority of homes can be purchased for between $200,000 and $400,000.
On average, you can get a great rental for $1,000 to $2,000 a month.
Oklahoma Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Oklahoma Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: MEDIUM
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Oklahoma known for?
If you’re into musicals, you’ve likely at least heard of Oklahoma.
The theme song of the musical is also named after the state.
If musicals aren’t your thing, Route 66 might be.
Originally known as US Highway 66, it’s a nearly 2,500-mile highway that connects Chicago to Los Angeles.
For 60 years, this OG highway made for epic road trips.
The longest stretch of Route 66 stretches across Oklahoma, a total of 426 miles.
Football is another big deal in the state.
While they surprisingly don’t have a professional team, there are a few Oklahoma college teams with scores of fans.
Lastly, even though Oklahoma isn’t associated with moving walls of dust anymore, it couldn’t escape all-natural disasters.
Oklahoma is the tornado capital of the world.
There are over 50 to touch down each year.
There are fatalities annually, as well as an onslaught of crushing hopes and dreams.
How diverse is Oklahoma?
Depending on where you look, Oklahoma has either the first or second-highest population of Native Americans in the US.
Oklahoma seems to be closely contending with Alaska on that topic.
At most, 14% of the state’s population is Native American.
If you are wondering why specifically Oklahoma, it’s due to the Trail of Tears ending here.
Long before the war raged against the North and South over slavery, another terrible thing happened to a minority group.
The Trail of Tears ran from the southeast, ironically where the bulk of slavery was going on, out west to Oklahoma.
Of the 60,000 Cherokees who were forced to move, about 15,000 died.
Now, these people are part of the land.
Reservations are different here, the people are much more intertwined in regular society.
Today, there are 38 federally recognized nations in Oklahoma.
Aside from the recognized native population, 64% are European, 13% African, 19% Hispanic, and 6% Asian.
What is there to do in Oklahoma?
The Sooner State has come a long way from frequent dust storms.
Getting outdoors has never been easier!
There are six national parks and 32 state parks for anyone hoping to have an adventure in exploration.
Want to go indoors to escape the heat?
Connect to your inner cowboy at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.
Go back even further in time at the Woolaroc Museum and Wildlife Preserve.
If you have children, you won’t want to miss out on the Gathering Place in Tulsa.
While we’re all living in the 2020s, this park is living in 2100.
At least that’s how you’ll feel walking through the sensory garden or sitting in the library.
Yes, there’s a library as well as a place to grab a snack indoors and take off on a boat ride.
That might be reason alone to move there.
