Moving to Oklahoma

Oklahoma, otherwise known as ‘The Sooner State’, is a fabulous state to work and live. If you are moving or relocating to OK, we have compiled a detailed list of some important facts and useful information to help make your move an easy transition.

Geography

Located in the West South Central Region of the country, Oklahoma is bordered by Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico and Texas. With a total land area of over 69,898.19 Square Miles, it comes in as the 20th largest state.

Population

Currently, the population of OK is 3,923,561 making it the 22nd least populated state in the union and the 14th least densely populated. The state capital, Oklahoma City, has a population of 528042. which is the 8th largest capital in the country.

Notable Oklahomans

Oklahoma is home to many famous and some infamous citizens such as, Johnny Bench a notable baseball player is from Oklahoma City and John Berryman a notable poet is from MacAlester. Others include people like Garth Brooks a singer and Jeremy Castle a singer .

Climate

Oklahoma lies in the central Great Plains, straddling the transition from relatively abundant precipitation in the southeast to semi-arid conditions in the west. Due to its location in the interior of the United States and some distance from the moderating effects of any oceans, the state experiences a wide range of temperatures, averaging less than 40°F in the winter to almost 80°F in the summer. The hottest year on record was 2012 with an average temperature of 63.2°F, which is 3.5°F degrees warmer than the long-term average. Extreme temperatures for the state range from 120°F, observed at several locations in the summer of 1936, to 31°F observed in northeastern Oklahoma during the winter of 2011.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, temperatures in Oklahoma have risen less than 1°F.
Temperatures in the past decade have been higher than in the previous 40 years and have approached the levels seen during the 1950s and the 1930s Dust Bowl era, when poor land management likely exacerbated the hot summer temperatures. The recent warming has been concentrated in the winter and spring, while summers have not exhibited substantial warming until the most recent 5-year period, a feature characteristic of much of the Great Plains and Midwest. The lack of summer warming is reflected in the mostly below average number of extremely hot days in recent years and the lack of an overall trend in extremely warm nights. However, both measures have been above average in the last 5 years. The winter warming trend is reflected in a below average number of very cold nights since 1990.

Crime Statistics

Safety and security should always be an important factor when moving to a new area. A state’s crime rate affects more than just the safety of its resident, it highly affects property value, economics and the overall quality of life. Based on the last FBI Crime Statistics, Oklahoma’s violent crime rate is 40 per 10k residents which is greater than the national average of 37.3. In addition, the state’s property crime rate is 299per 10k residents which is greater than the national average of 248.7.

Oklahoma ranks #15 in the US for violent crime and #14 for property crime.

Schools & Education

Whether you are a student, have children, or neither, a state’s educational system is not only important to those attending, it’s vital to the overall quality of life, culture and economics of the state. Based on data from multiple public and private sources, we were able to rank Oklahoma’s educational system.

Overall Grade: D+

Oklahoma spends on average $8929.00 per pupil, which is less than the national average ($11,900). OK ranks #46 in the US compared to the rest of the country. While OK ranks #46 in spending, the latest graduation rate is 82.50%%.

Another important factor is the percentage of families that enroll their young children (ages 3-4) in an accredited pre-school program. Oklahoma ranks #29 with over 43.20% of children attending a early educational program.

Taxes

The current income tax rate for Oklahoma is 5.00% which ranks 18th favorable amongst other states. If you are purchasing property, you may want to consider the the property tax burden rate. This is the amount you pay in taxes per $1000 earned. OK’s rate is $14.28 which ranks 1st in the US.

Currently, OK sales tax is $27.19 for which it comes in as 35th compared to other states.

Sports

Oklahoma fans are not only devoted but also very unwavering to their local major league teams. Oklahoma is home to the following teams: and the Oklahoma City Thunder .

Utility Companies

Before you move to Oklahoma, it’s advised that you know who your utility companies are. We have an extensive list of both public and private utility companies in OK.

Other Resources

For more information about moving to Oklahoma, visit their website at http://www.ok.gov/