The Best Places to Live in Oklahoma to Start a New Career

Are you looking for the best places to live in Oklahoma for a new job? Known as the "Sooner State," Oklahoma is famous for its Native American heritage, country music, college sports, warm southern hospitality, and some of the best barbecue in the country. Furthermore, you'll benefit from the states booming economy and diverse job market. If you're planning to move here to build a new career, you'll find plenty of opportunities in the agriculture, aviation/aerospace, life sciences, government, and healthcare sectors.

Whether you prefer big cities or quaint towns, Oklahoma has something for everyone. Wherever you plan to settle down, you’ll have easy access to an abundance of beautiful lakes, rolling hills, vast mountain ranges, and lush forests. Plus, you can enjoy a vibrant cultural and culinary scene with plenty of fun leisure activities to pursue in your free time.

Reasons to Move to Oklahoma:

• The overall cost of living is much lower than the U.S. average. Median home prices are also significantly cheaper than in the rest of the country.
• The state has one of the lowest median property tax rates in the U.S.
• Oklahoma's unemployment rate is lower than the U.S. average.
• It ranks fourth in the country for its economic outlook after Utah, North Carolina, and Arizona.
• Oklahoma is known for its affordable college education.
• The average commute time here is lower than the national average.
• The state ranks as one of the friendliest in the country. The locals are polite, welcoming, and laid-back.
• When you move to Oklahoma, you'll enjoy some of the state's mouthwatering cuisine, including fried okra, cornbread, chicken and waffles, pecan pie, and of course, barbecue.
• You can easily take a road trip along the iconic Route 66 that runs through Tulsa and Oklahoma City before crossing into Texas.

If these reasons have convinced you to move to Oklahoma, read on to discover some of the state's top destinations to live and work.

Oklahoma City

The state capital, Oklahoma City, is a fast-growing metropolis thanks to its low cost of living, affordable homes, and low unemployment rate. It's also one of the best cities to live in Oklahoma if you're passionate about horses. Known as the Horse Show Capitol of the World, Oklahoma hosts more horse championship events than any other city worldwide. You can also enjoy plenty of sports events, exciting nightlife, a vibrant cultural scene, and family-friendly attractions.

The job market here is diverse and plentiful. Oklahoma is home to the world's largest cattle markets providing many agriculture job opportunities. Other significant industries include manufacturing, energy, healthcare, transportation, and food service.

Find Oklahoma City, OK jobs on Monster.

Tulsa

There are numerous reasons why Tulsa is one of the best places to live in Oklahoma. Located on the Arkansas River, Tulsa is known for its welcoming community, art deco architecture, numerous sports leagues, exciting nightlife, and festivals. Many people move to Tulsa for work because of its strong job market, low cost of living, and excellent schools.

Once known as the "Oil Capital of the World," Tulsa still employs thousands of people in the oil and gas industry. However, you can find plenty of opportunities in other sectors as well, including aerospace, manufacturing, transportation, healthcare, and education.

Find Tulsa, OK jobs on Monster.

Edmond

Edmond is known as the "Crown Jewel" of Oklahoma and lies just north of Oklahoma City. One of the safest cities in the country, Edmond boasts many assets, including highly-rated public schools, a low unemployment rate, a low poverty rate, a robust job market, and an excellent transportation system. And, if you decide to move here for work, you'll enjoy the numerous parks, festivals, golf courses, walking trails, and the beautiful Lake Arcadia. It's easy to see why it's one of the best places to live in Oklahoma.

With one of the most educated workforces in the southwest, Edmond residents benefit from a high median household income compared to the rest of the state and the U.S average. When looking for a job, explore the largest industries: education, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail.

Find Edmond, OK jobs on Monster.

Norman

Norman lies just west of the magnificent Lake Thunderbird State Park and is one of the best places to live in Oklahoma. It's home to the University of Oklahoma, ranked number one in the state for its exceptional academics, affordability, and strong career prospects for graduates. Norman is an excellent option if you are considering relocating here for work. It has a dense suburban feel with a family-friendly community. Plus, you'll have easy access to Oklahoma City.

The state boasts a low unemployment rate compared to the national average, and the median household income is higher than the state average. Plus, Norman has a strong and varied economy driven by industries including education, government, retail, and manufacturing.

Find Norman, OK jobs on Monster.

Broken Arrow

Settled by the Muscogee (Creek) tribe in the early 1800s, Broken Arrow prides itself on a rich heritage. Located just east of Tulsa, in Oklahoma's Green Country region, Broken Arrow is a picturesque city known for its beautiful lakes, sprawling parks, and rolling hills. That, plus a quick commute to Tulsa city, a robust job market, good schools, and a low crime rate, have contributed significantly to Broken Arrow's rapid growth.

Broken Arrow also has a low unemployment rate, and the median household income is much higher than the state and national average. If you're searching for a new job, you can find opportunities in healthcare, aerospace, retail, and manufacturing.

Find Broken Arrow, OK jobs on Monster.

Ready to Say “Ok!” to Working in the "Sooner State"?

Now that you're familiar with the best places to live in Oklahoma, start looking for jobs. Wherever you decide to build your new career, Monster is here to help you on your journey. Simply create your free profile and upload your resume to connect with recruiters. Plus, you can be one of the first to apply when you sign up for our custom job alerts.