Best Counties to Raise a Family in Oklahoma

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Best counties to raise a family in Oklahoma

Known in other parts of the world as shires, provinces, or territories, the United States' counties (also known in certain states as boroughs or parishes) date back to the 1600s, when settlers first came to find freedom from British rule. Today, those counties remain, with the 50 states divided into several, each with its own unique makeup.

For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wishlists.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Oklahoma using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, healthcare, recreation and weather.

The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.

#25. Creek County

- Population: 71,427
- Median home value: $122,700 (74% own)
- Median rent: $797 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $51,318
- Top public schools: Mannford Middle School (A-), Kellyville Elementary School (A-), Mannford Lower Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Eagle Point Christian Academy (B+)
- Top places to live: Mannford (B+), Sapulpa (B), Kiefer (B)

#24. McClain County

- Population: 39,247
- Median home value: $177,500 (79% own)
- Median rent: $780 (21% rent)
- Median household income: $67,662
- Top public schools: Newcastle Middle School (A-), Blanchard Middle School (A-), Washington Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools:
- Top places to live: Goldsby (A), Newcastle (A-), Blanchard (B+)

#23. Nowata County

- Population: 10,322
- Median home value: $87,700 (74% own)
- Median rent: $613 (26% rent)
- Median household income: $43,145
- Top public schools: Oklahoma Union Middle School (A-), Oklahoma Union Elementary School (A-), Nowata Middle School (B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places to live: Nowata (B-), Delaware (B+), Lenapah (B)

#22. 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)

#21. 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+)

#20. 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-)

#19. 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)

#18. 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+)

#17. Mayes County

- Population: 41,044
- Median home value: $112,800 (73% own)
- Median rent: $745 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $50,345
- Top public schools: Adair Middle School (A), Bernita Hughes Elementary School (A), Roosevelt Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: William Bradford Christian School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Pryor Creek (B), Adair (A-), Pensacola (B+)

#16. Atoka County

- Population: 13,823
- Median home value: $102,900 (73% own)
- Median rent: $554 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $39,316
- Top public schools: Albion Public School (A+), Tushka Elementary School (A-), Lane Elementary School (B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places to live: Lane (B+), Caney (B), Stringtown (B)

#15. 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-)

#14. 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-)

#13. 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)

#12. 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-)

#11. 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-)

#10. 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-)

#9. 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)

#8. 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-)

#7. 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)

#6. 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)

#5. 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)

#4. 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)

#3. 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+)

#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)