Here Are The 10 Best Cities In Oklahoma To Raise A Family
We can all agree, Oklahoma has more than 10 cities that are great for raising a family. However, we wanted to highlight a study done by NerdWallet that put together a list of the state’s best towns to live for families. With that in mind, they asked the following questions as they analyzed cities and towns across the state: “Does the town have good public schools?”; “Can you afford to live there?”; and “Is the town growing and prospering?”
The overall score for each city was derived from the following measures: GreatSchools city rating, median home value from the 2011 U.S. Census, monthly homeowner costs from the 2011 U.S. Census, median household income from the 2011 U.S. Census, and income change between 1999 and 2011 from the U.S. Census. Only places with a population greater than 5,000 were considered. According to NerdWallet’s data, these are the 10 best cities in Oklahoma to raise a family:
Just off Route 66 is Edmond, one of the safest cities in the country. Schools here are also among the best in the state. Each of the public high schools earned a perfect score from GreatSchools, and one of them, Santa Fe High, was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2012. Overall score for families: 63.7
Collinsville is an outer suburb of Tulsa with a small-town feel and historic main street. The city just received a $20,000 grant to support its work in promoting residents’ health and wellbeing. TSET, which awarded the grant, also gave Collinsville Excellence status for its work in community health so far. Overall score for families: 63.8
Yukon sits on the western border of Oklahoma City. The city’s school district serves over 7,800 students, and it has earned a perfect rating from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools for its top-notch community, curriculum, facilities, staff and students. Overall score for families: 63.9
Tecumseh is a moderately sized city 40 miles east of Oklahoma City. Tecumseh High School has a strong academic record. In its most recent report card, issued by the state government, the school earned an "A" in each major discipline: English, math, science and history. Overall score for families: 65.5
Jenks sits on the West Bank of the Arkansas River, and is home to a growing tourist industry. Visitors come to the small city to see what some call the Antique Capital of Oklahoma. Additionally, the Oklahoma Aquarium brings 500,000 visitors to town every year. Overall score for families: 65.8
Weatherford is the western capital of Oklahoma. Top industries in the 10,000-person city include agriculture, oil and gas, and wind power. Southwestern Oklahoma State University’s campus is here, and it boasts a pharmacy school that is among the best-value programs in the nation, thanks to high performance after school and low cost. Overall score for families: 66.6
Elk City sits on the western edge of Oklahoma, along Route 66, which runs from Chicago to Los Angeles. Nearby are numerous opportunities for higher education, including Southwestern Oklahoma State University and an adult-learning and workforce-training program at the Western Technology Center. Overall score for families: 68.5
With a median home value of $51,600, Blackwell offers one of the most affordable real estate markets in Oklahoma. Schools here are excellent as well. With their success on standardized tests, students in the town earned a near-perfect rating from GreatSchools. Overall score for families: 70.4
Blanchard is a southwestern suburb of Oklahoma City and one of the quickest-growing communities in the state. A local high school, Blanchard High, earned a near-perfect rating from GreatSchools because of student achievement on standardized tests. The school also has the honor of having won a grant from the state department of education to support its AP Psychology program. Overall score for families: 71.4
Piedmont is just northwest of Oklahoma City, and it is home to excellent schools. The school district, overall, boasts a 97.3 percent graduation rate for its three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Its high school also earned an "A" from the state department of education – an honor only 9 percent of Oklahoma schools can claim. Overall score for families: 71.7
Do you agree with this list? If not, what cities do you think are the best for raising kids and why?
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Ashley has lived in Oklahoma for 25 years and is the Oklahoma staff writer for onlyinyourstate.com. When she isn't exploring Oklahoma, she enjoys visiting the beaches of California.
