Best counties to live in Oklahoma

Written by:
June 17, 2021
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Best counties to live in Oklahoma

What makes a particular county the best? Oftentimes, it's a good mix of opportunities for fun outdoor activities and cultural attractions. Throw in some historical sites, good schools, job opportunities, and affordable housing, and the county will most likely have happy residents.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Oklahoma using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by a variety of factors including: public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.

Many counties on the list are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or home values. Others are adored for their historic or well-designed value, or devotion to cultural opportunities. Keep reading to see if your county made the list.

#25. Kay County

- Population: 44,402
- Median home value: $92,100 (67% own)
- Median rent: $674 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $46,809
- Top public schools: Tonkawa Elementary School (A), Woodlands Elementary School (B+), Newkirk Elementary School (B)
- Top private schools: First Lutheran School (unavailable), St. Mary's Catholic School (unavailable), Ponca City Christian Academy (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Tonkawa (A), Ponca City (B+), Blackwell (B)

#24. Grady County

- Population: 55,071
- Median home value: $134,300 (77% own)
- Median rent: $717 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $60,875
- Top public schools: Pioneer Public School (A+), Friend Public School (A), Middleberg Public School (A)
- Top private schools: Epworth Christian School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Tuttle (B+), Ninnekah (B+), Chickasha (B)

#23. Caddo County

- Population: 29,242
- Median home value: $84,900 (71% own)
- Median rent: $582 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $46,592
- Top public schools: Lookeba-Sickles Elementary School (A), Binger-Oney Elementary School (B+), Carnegie Elementary School (B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places to live: Anadarko (B), Hydro (A), Hinton (B)

#22. Beaver County

- Population: 5,377
- Median home value: $101,200 (77% own)
- Median rent: $708 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $52,349
- Top public schools: Beaver High School (B+), Beaver Elementary School (B+), Turpin Elementary School (B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places to live: Beaver (B+), Turpin (B), Forgan (B)

#21. Texas County

- Population: 20,805
- Median home value: $115,100 (68% own)
- Median rent: $771 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $52,282
- Top public schools: Goodwell Elementary School (B), Yarbrough Elementary School (B), Yarbrough High School (B)
- Top private schools: Pioneer Adventist Christian School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Guymon (B), Goodwell (A), Tyrone (B+)

#20. Kingfisher County

- Population: 15,694
- Median home value: $144,700 (76% own)
- Median rent: $788 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $57,777
- Top public schools: Kingfisher Heritage (A), Okarche Elementary School (A), Kingfisher Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: Holy Trinity Catholic School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Kingfisher (B+), Hennessey (B+), Cashion (B)

#19. Logan County

- Population: 46,683
- Median home value: $169,500 (83% own)
- Median rent: $780 (17% rent)
- Median household income: $65,357
- Top public schools: Mulhall-Orlando Elementary School (A), Guthrie Junior High School (B), Mulhall-Orlando High School (B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places to live: Guthrie (B), Cedar Valley (B), Langston (B)

#18. Muskogee County

- Population: 68,736
- Median home value: $104,200 (65% own)
- Median rent: $681 (35% rent)
- Median household income: $43,078
- Top public schools: Fort Gibson Intermediate Elementary School (A), Warner Elementary School (A), Sadler Arts Academy (A)
- Top private schools: Boulevard Christian School (A), St. Joseph Catholic School (unavailable), Saint Francis Child Development Center (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Fort Gibson (A), Muskogee (B), Warner (A)

#17. Murray County

- Population: 13,946
- Median home value: $127,000 (70% own)
- Median rent: $698 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $52,478
- Top public schools: Sulphur Middle School (B+), Sulphur Intermediate School (B+), Davis Elementary School (B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places to live: Davis (B+), Sulphur (B+), Dougherty (B)

#16. Noble County

- Population: 11,335
- Median home value: $103,500 (77% own)
- Median rent: $675 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $56,117
- Top public schools: Morrison Elementary School (B+), Morrison High School (B+), Perry Elementary School (B)
- Top private schools:
- Top places to live: Perry (B), Morrison (A), Marland (C+)

#15. Rogers County

- Population: 91,353
- Median home value: $162,300 (78% own)
- Median rent: $872 (22% rent)
- Median household income: $65,434
- Top public schools: Verdigris Elementary School (A), Verdigris Upper Elementary School (B+), Bowring Public School (B+)
- Top private schools: Claremore Christian School (B+), Legacy Christian School (unavailable), The Goddard School - Owasso (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Verdigris (A), Claremore (B+), Justice (B)

#14. Cherokee County

- Population: 48,664
- Median home value: $118,000 (68% own)
- Median rent: $666 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $42,774
- Top public schools: Woodall Public School (A), Tahlequah Middle School (A), Heritage Elementary School (B+)
- Top private schools: Shiloh Christian School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Tahlequah (A), Park Hill (B+), Pettit (A)

#13. Custer County

- Population: 29,152
- Median home value: $142,500 (63% own)
- Median rent: $728 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $49,900
- Top public schools: Weatherford East Elementary School (A), Thomas Elementary School (A), Weatherford Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: Western Oklahoma Christian School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Weatherford (A), Clinton (B), Thomas (A)

#12. Comanche County

- Population: 121,762
- Median home value: $124,600 (53% own)
- Median rent: $835 (47% rent)
- Median household income: $52,161
- Top public schools: Bishop Public School (A+), Flower Mound Public School (A), Elgin Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: Lawton Academy of Arts & Sciences (A), Lawton Christian School (A), Trinity Christian Academy (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Cache (B+), Lawton (B), Elgin (B+)

#11. Garfield County

- Population: 61,898
- Median home value: $112,600 (66% own)
- Median rent: $856 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $54,006
- Top public schools: Chisholm Elementary School (A), Chisholm Middle School (A), Hoover Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Oklahoma Bible Academy (A), Emmanuel Christian School (unavailable), St. Joseph Catholic School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Enid (B+), North Enid (B+), Garber (B)

#10. Alfalfa County

- Population: 5,847
- Median home value: $85,700 (80% own)
- Median rent: $640 (20% rent)
- Median household income: $61,852
- Top public schools: Cherokee Elementary School (A), Burlington Elementary School (A), Timberlake Elementary School (B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places to live: Burlington (A), Jet (A), Cherokee (B+)

#9. Jackson County

- Population: 25,063
- Median home value: $106,500 (58% own)
- Median rent: $737 (42% rent)
- Median household income: $49,703
- Top public schools: Altus Early Childhood Center (A), Altus Primary School (A), L. Mendel Rivers Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Altus Christian Academy (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Altus (B+), Eldorado (B+), East Duke (B)

#8. Washington County

- Population: 51,886
- Median home value: $120,600 (71% own)
- Median rent: $740 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $54,997
- Top public schools: Wayside Elementary School (A), Central Middle School (A), Madison Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: Wesleyan Christian School (B)
- Top places to live: Bartlesville (A), Dewey (B), Ramona (B)

#7. Canadian County

- Population: 140,455
- Median home value: $165,500 (75% own)
- Median rent: $941 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $72,056
- Top public schools: Banner Public School (A), Maple Public School (A), Calumet Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Southwest Covenant Schools (A), Harvest Hills Christian School (B), St. John Nepomuk Catholic School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Yukon (A), Mustang (B+), El Reno (B)

#6. Payne County

- Population: 81,815
- Median home value: $161,700 (52% own)
- Median rent: $817 (48% rent)
- Median household income: $41,603
- Top public schools: Stillwater High School (A), Stillwater Middle School (A), Perkins-Tryon Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Covenant Community Christian School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Stillwater (A), Cushing (B), Mulhall (B)

#5. Woods County

- Population: 9,043
- Median home value: $107,000 (68% own)
- Median rent: $690 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $54,282
- Top public schools: Longfellow Elementary School (A), Waynoka Elementary School (A), Lincoln Elementary School (B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places to live: Alva (A), Waynoka (B+), Freedom (B)

#4. Pontotoc County

- Population: 38,355
- Median home value: $129,300 (66% own)
- Median rent: $707 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $50,392
- Top public schools: Latta Middle School (A), Homer Elementary School (A), Francis Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools:
- Top places to live: Ada (A), Byng (A), Francis (B+)

#3. Cleveland County

- Population: 279,274
- Median home value: $165,600 (64% own)
- Median rent: $926 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $64,016
- Top public schools: Robin Hill Public School (A), Cleveland Elementary School (A), Norman High School (A)
- Top private schools: Community Christian School (B), All Saints Catholic School (unavailable), Creative Kids Learning Center (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Norman (A), Moore (A), Noble (B)

#2. Oklahoma County

- Population: 787,216
- Median home value: $153,300 (59% own)
- Median rent: $870 (41% rent)
- Median household income: $54,520
- Top public schools: Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (A+), Oakdale Public School (A), Memorial High School (A)
- Top private schools: Casady School (A+), Heritage Hall (A+), Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School (A+)
- Top places to live: Edmond (A+), Oklahoma City (A), The Village (A)

#1. Tulsa County

- Population: 646,419
- Median home value: $156,400 (59% own)
- Median rent: $865 (41% rent)
- Median household income: $55,517
- Top public schools: Jenks High School (A), Booker T. Washington High School (A), Deborah Brown Community School (A)
- Top private schools: Holland Hall (A+), Cascia Hall Preparatory School (A+), Peace Academy (A+)
- Top places to live: Jenks (A+), Bixby (A), Owasso (A)

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