Life in the Oklahoma City Metro
- 200+ Public Parks
- 14 Colleges & Universities
- 25+ Craft Breweries
- 30+ Golf Courses
Where urban innovation meets suburban solace. As the central hub of the state, the Oklahoma City metro marks the prime blend of culture, entertainment, and wide open opportunity.
Best for: Business-casual culture seekers
Popular Places to Move
Purcell
Population
6,651
Average Home Value
$219,948
Chickasha
Population
16,051
Average Home Value
$135,605
Guthrie
Population
11,029
Average Home Value
213,572
Yukon
Population
23,630
Average Home Value
$255,679
Shawnee
Population
31,377
Average Home Value
$145,023
Stillwater
Population
48,394
Average Home Value
$231,777
Midwest City
Population
58,409
Average Home Value
$159,725
Moore
Population
62,223
Average Home Value
$213,310
Edmond
Population
95,341
Average Home Value
$336,621
Norman
Population
128,026
Average Home Value
$244,695
Oklahoma City
Population
681,054
Average Home Value
$199,296
How does life in the Oklahoma City metro compare?
Top Industries
Live Sports
From pro sports to college powerhouses, central Oklahoma’s sports scene is raucous. Your post-work plans could include an Oklahoma City Thunder game, a night under the lights with Oklahoma City Comets, or an Oklahoma Warriors hockey match. College football is a way of life in Oklahoma, but the OU Sooners and OSU Cowboys also dominate in basketball, gymnastics, softball, wrestling, and more. The state’s capital city also hosts to the National Softball Hall of Fame, home to Team USA Softball, OKC Spark pro softball, and the annual NCAA Women’s College World Series.
Music, Arts & Culture
If you love the arts, you’ll adore the Oklahoma City metro. Catch everything from big-name concerts at Paycom Center to intimate shows at Tower Theatre. See the greats at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art or Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, then sit back for a Broadway musical at Civic Center Music Hall, Shawnee Little Theatre, or The Pollard Theatre in Guthrie. In Moore, the Yellow Rose Dinner Theater serves up a delicious meal alongside live comedy shows and Las Vegas-style revues. The Oklahoma City Ballet or Edmond’s UCO Jazz Lab make ideal date nights or adventures with the kids, and if you want a truly unique experience, Factory Obscura is a feast for the senses.
Tower Theater
Oklahoma City
Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art
Norman
UCO Jazz Lab
Edmond
Factory Obscura Mixtape
Oklahoma City
History & Museums
Several world-class museums hang their hats in the Oklahoma City metro. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, the First Americans Museum, and the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum are the quickest way to get to know your new home state. You’ll also find the National Weather Museum, the only museum focused on the science of weather in the U.S. Kids love the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History in Norman and Seminole’s Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum. Up for something quirkier? The American Banjo Museum, Museum of Osteology, and American Pigeon Museum are right up your alley.
American Banjo Museum
Oklahoma City
First Americans Museum
Oklahoma City
Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
Norman
Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
Oklahoma City
Jasmine Moran Children's Museum
Seminole
Golf
If tee time is your me time, set your shot for the Oklahoma City metro. The city of Edmond alone is home to seven courses, including Oak Tree National, ranked one of the top in the country. Over 30 other links stud central Oklahoma too, like Stillwater’s Karsten Creek Golf Club, Norman’s Jimmie Austin Golf Club, and Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club in scenic Nichols Hills. Practice your swing at Topgolf Oklahoma City, or bring the little ones for a round at Hidden Creek Family Golf Course in Midwest City or Cobblestone Creek Golf Club in Norman.
Festival of the Arts
Downtown OKC
Oklahoma State Fair
Oklahoma City
Festivals
From annual festivals to parades and block parties, there’s always something happening in the Oklahoma City metro. The Oklahoma State Fair is an essential Okie experience, as is Oklahoma City’s Festival of the Arts. For music lovers, Norman Music Festival keeps things rocking, and for cinephiles, get your ticket to deadCenter Film Festival. Shawnee’s FireFlight Balloon Fest fills those signature blue skies each summer, and when the holidays roll around, Guthrie’s Territorial Christmas is a must-see.
Food & Drink
From James Beard honorees to legendary dives, central Oklahoma’s culinary scene has a taste for every tongue. Sample scratch-made favorites at Theopolis Social Club in Shawnee or catch a concert over The Jones Assembly’s comfort food. Get a little fancy with a 10-course meal at Nonesuch or go kitschy with a burger and one of hundreds of sodas at Pops 66 Soda Ranch. For drinks, check out more than 25 craft breweries, fuel up with a fresh cuppa at Hoboken Coffee Roasters in Guthrie, or try out cult-classic watering holes like Norman’s The Mont and Flamingo Tiki, Oklahoma’s largest rum bar. Don’t miss Sid’s Diner in El Reno for an authentic onion burger and cheese fries at Stillwater’s Eskimo Joe’s — both Oklahoma essentials.
Family Fun
For families, the fun never ends in the Oklahoma City metro. Along with splash pads, playgrounds, and sports fields, your crew can embrace their inner Einstein at the Science Museum Oklahoma, go wild at the Oklahoma City Zoo, or make new family traditions at Orr Family Farm. Little ones adore Seminole’s Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum, and for the big kids, don’t miss ziplining and white-water rafting at RIVERSPORT OKC.
RIVERSPORT OKC
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City Zoo
Oklahoma City
Science Museum Oklahoma
Oklahoma City
City Parks
Central Oklahoma’s city parks are a nature lover’s dream come true. Scissortail Park and the Myriad Botanical Gardens bring lush landscapes and community events right in the heart of the city. When you need to cool off, Lake Hefner and Lake Thunderbird State Park have you covered, while Mitch Park in Edmond and Martin Park Nature Center have plenty of serene spots for hiking and picnicking. Reaves Park in Norman, KidSpace Park in Shawnee, and Midwest City’s Joe B. Barnes Regional Park add to the mix for family outings and outdoor adventures.
Myriad Botanical Gardens
Oklahoma City
KidSpace Park
Shawnee
