Some of you might be asking yourself, at this very moment, is Oklahoma a good place?
The answer is unequivocally yes… if you know where to locate the best counties to live in Oklahoma.
Lucky for you, we’re here to help you identify the best counties to live in the Sooner State based on the most recently available data from the Census. And this isn’t our first rodeo — we’ve been using Saturday Night Science to rank places for years.
The question becomes if you wanted to relocate to the best part of Oklahoma, where would you go? To answer that, we looked at crime, cost of living, and demographic data for all 77 counties in the state.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 Best Counties To Live In Oklahoma For 2024
Canadian County is the county to be when it comes to living the good life in Oklahoma. And you should avoid Seminole County if you can — at least according to the data.
Now you know exactly where to move in Oklahoma. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in Oklahoma and the cheapest places to live in Oklahoma.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The Best Counties To Live In Oklahoma For 2024
1. Canadian County
Biggest Place: Oklahoma City
Population: 156,681
Median Income: $82,364 (best)
Median Home Price: $254,432 (5th best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.1% (22nd best)
More on Canadian County: Data
2. Logan County
Biggest Place: Guthrie
Population: 49,919
Median Income: $80,565 (2nd best)
Median Home Price: $274,131 (best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.9% (11th best)
More on Logan County: Data
3. Mcclain County
Biggest Place: Newcastle
Population: 42,393
Median Income: $80,150 (3rd best)
Median Home Price: $269,153 (2nd best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.1% (23rd best)
More on Mcclain County: Data
4. Rogers County
Biggest Place: Tulsa
Population: 95,870
Median Income: $75,312 (4th best)
Median Home Price: $263,833 (3rd best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.7% (35th best)
More on Rogers County: Data
5. Cleveland County
Biggest Place: Oklahoma City
Population: 295,060
Median Income: $71,757 (8th best)
Median Home Price: $236,004 (7th best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.7% (33rd best)
More on Cleveland County: Data
6. Wagoner County
Biggest Place: Tulsa
Population: 82,269
Median Income: $75,082 (5th best)
Median Home Price: $256,747 (4th best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.9% (39th best)
More on Wagoner County: Data
7. Major County
Biggest Place: Fairview
Population: 7,678
Median Income: $67,621 (9th best)
Median Home Price: $143,359 (36th best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8% (2nd best)
More on Major County: Data
8. Creek County
Biggest Place: Sapulpa
Population: 72,076
Median Income: $61,657 (16th best)
Median Home Price: $184,913 (18th best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.7% (16th best)
More on Creek County: Data
9. Grady County
Biggest Place: Chickasha
Population: 55,314
Median Income: $74,349 (7th best)
Median Home Price: $211,902 (10th best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.0% (4best)
More on Grady County: Data
10. Noble County
Biggest Place: Perry
Population: 10,981
Median Income: $66,813 (10th best)
Median Home Price: $126,452 (49th best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.0% (19th best)
More on Noble County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which Oklahoma county is the best?
To give you the best county in Oklahoma, we have to look at a handful of metrics that signal the quality of a place. To do that, we made assumptions about what’s in a “best county” and what isn’t. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to two of the best data sources on the internet. Namely, the American Community Survey data and FBI Crime data for the most recent period.
We paid particular attention to:
- Violent Crime Rates
- Property Crime Rates
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Unemployment Rates
- Adult Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty Rates
We then ranked each county in Oklahoma across each of the criteria from one to 77, with one being the best.
Taking the average rank across all criteria, we created a quality of life score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Best County To Live In Oklahoma.”
The result is some of the safest, quietest, and best counties to raise a family in the Sooner State.
We updated this article for 2024. This report is our tenth time ranking the best counties to live in Oklahoma.
Read on to see why Canadian County is the best county, while Seminole County is probably in contention for being the worst county in Oklahoma.
Summary: The Best Counties In Oklahoma To Call Home For 2024
Living in Oklahoma can vary from one part of the state to the next — who woulda thought?
The best counties in Oklahoma are Canadian County, Logan County, McClain County, Rogers County, Cleveland County, Wagoner County, Major County, Creek County, Grady County, and Noble County.
But now you know the outstanding parts and the parts to avoid, and that’s why you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the worst counties in Oklahoma according to the data:
- Seminole County
- Pushmataha County
- Coal County
For more Oklahoma reading, check out:
- Best Places To Retire In Oklahoma
- Best Places To Buy A House In Oklahoma
- Safest Places In Oklahoma
- Richest Cities In Oklahoma
Detailed List Of The Best Counties In Oklahoma
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Median Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canadian County | 156,681 | $82,364 | $254,432 |
| 2 | Logan County | 49,919 | $80,565 | $274,131 |
| 3 | Mcclain County | 42,393 | $80,150 | $269,153 |
| 4 | Rogers County | 95,870 | $75,312 | $263,833 |
| 5 | Cleveland County | 295,060 | $71,757 | $236,004 |
| 6 | Wagoner County | 82,269 | $75,082 | $256,747 |
| 7 | Major County | 7,678 | $67,621 | $143,359 |
| 8 | Creek County | 72,076 | $61,657 | $184,913 |
| 9 | Grady County | 55,314 | $74,349 | $211,902 |
| 10 | Noble County | 10,981 | $66,813 | $126,452 |
| 11 | Kingfisher County | 15,290 | $65,167 | $205,065 |
| 12 | Washington County | 52,579 | $59,426 | $161,828 |
| 13 | Grant County | 4,152 | $58,980 | $90,025 |
| 14 | Roger Mills County | 3,423 | $57,574 | $168,356 |
| 15 | Custer County | 28,391 | $58,669 | $152,966 |
| 16 | Osage County | 46,004 | $58,189 | $183,437 |
| 17 | Murray County | 13,837 | $60,213 | $143,879 |
| 18 | Alfalfa County | 5,683 | $75,028 | $71,188 |
| 19 | Tulsa County | 668,923 | $65,229 | $225,188 |
| 20 | Oklahoma County | 795,822 | $62,505 | $209,325 |
| 21 | Beaver County | 5,071 | $62,981 | $136,301 |
| 22 | Harper County | 3,272 | $59,934 | $67,410 |
| 23 | Lincoln County | 33,734 | $57,656 | $162,679 |
| 24 | Pontotoc County | 38,116 | $59,457 | $169,207 |
| 25 | Garfield County | 62,456 | $64,165 | $125,935 |
| 26 | Dewey County | 4,504 | $61,310 | $122,128 |
| 27 | Pawnee County | 15,682 | $56,279 | $143,576 |
| 28 | Pottawatomie County | 72,734 | $58,270 | $166,177 |
| 29 | Jackson County | 24,776 | $60,954 | $99,585 |
| 30 | Payne County | 82,058 | $46,658 | $207,568 |
| 31 | Cimarron County | 2,272 | $57,100 | $62,378 |
| 32 | Garvin County | 25,806 | $53,600 | $128,661 |
| 33 | Love County | 10,158 | $60,758 | $182,056 |
| 34 | Washita County | 10,930 | $60,600 | $86,718 |
| 35 | Carter County | 48,202 | $56,390 | $164,130 |
| 36 | Woods County | 8,661 | $50,724 | $109,069 |
| 37 | Comanche County | 121,777 | $57,150 | $134,163 |
| 38 | Stephens County | 43,140 | $57,065 | $121,839 |
| 39 | Cotton County | 5,537 | $60,208 | $93,796 |
| 40 | Bryan County | 46,528 | $54,289 | $219,978 |
| 41 | Mayes County | 39,324 | $56,552 | $197,980 |
| 42 | Nowata County | 9,460 | $50,960 | $127,798 |
| 43 | Woodward County | 20,411 | $61,207 | $124,786 |
| 44 | Kay County | 43,859 | $53,746 | $102,221 |
| 45 | Delaware County | 40,791 | $53,290 | $249,821 |
| 46 | Texas County | 21,144 | $55,682 | $147,298 |
| 47 | Cherokee County | 47,412 | $52,410 | $188,080 |
| 48 | Blaine County | 8,661 | $56,843 | $92,585 |
| 49 | Ellis County | 3,755 | $57,768 | $94,706 |
| 50 | Muskogee County | 66,606 | $50,289 | $137,264 |
| 51 | Craig County | 14,144 | $48,018 | $153,766 |
| 52 | Ottawa County | 30,472 | $46,186 | $112,247 |
| 53 | Pittsburg County | 43,758 | $53,054 | $135,401 |
| 54 | Johnston County | 10,410 | $48,476 | $140,249 |
| 55 | Mcintosh County | 19,159 | $43,467 | $171,794 |
| 56 | Greer County | 5,531 | $55,204 | $65,891 |
| 57 | Marshall County | 15,494 | $53,734 | $185,899 |
| 58 | Okmulgee County | 36,900 | $50,819 | $114,924 |
| 59 | Beckham County | 22,295 | $51,499 | $132,599 |
| 60 | Sequoyah County | 39,538 | $47,494 | $169,205 |
| 61 | Mccurtain County | 31,003 | $47,046 | $191,343 |
| 62 | Atoka County | 14,117 | $49,181 | $184,632 |
| 63 | Le Flore County | 48,525 | $46,750 | $143,300 |
| 64 | Okfuskee County | 11,349 | $45,429 | $114,479 |
| 65 | Jefferson County | 5,420 | $48,346 | $60,760 |
| 66 | Kiowa County | 8,446 | $42,679 | $60,775 |
| 67 | Caddo County | 26,910 | $52,443 | $83,770 |
| 68 | Tillman County | 7,013 | $46,306 | $46,064 |
| 69 | Latimer County | 9,537 | $42,735 | $127,774 |
| 70 | Haskell County | 11,651 | $46,239 | $142,700 |
| 71 | Choctaw County | 14,285 | $43,252 | $116,910 |
| 72 | Harmon County | 2,499 | $55,729 | $47,076 |
| 73 | Adair County | 19,726 | $44,955 | $146,936 |
| 74 | Hughes County | 13,409 | $44,799 | $92,011 |
| 75 | Coal County | 5,287 | $47,117 | $104,933 |
| 76 | Pushmataha County | 10,845 | $42,274 | $126,595 |
| 77 | Seminole County | 23,592 | $43,239 | $100,697 |