Thinking of living in Oklahoma City? OKC has great schools, plenty of cultural festivals, and is considered one of the most affordable cities to raise a family. Check out these five best places to live for families in Oklahoma City!
Crown Heights-Edgemere Heights
Photo via @theourengroup
- Home Price: $142,700 median purchase price; $793 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 4% of Oklahoma cities
Located about 20 minutes north of Downtown Oklahoma City, Crown Heights-Edgemere Heights offers the best of both worlds. Quiet streets are lined with spacious Tudors, Colonials, French Eclectics, and Art Decos—with the urban attractions of the city just a quick drive away. But that’s not the only reason Crown Heights-Edgemere Heights is one of the best neighborhoods for families in Oklahoma City. The neighborhood association hosts a variety of family-friendly events to bring the community closer—like the annual Easter Egg search party, spooky Haunted House Competition, or Christmas Tree Lighting event. To solidify this OKC neighborhood as a family favorite, there are also great public and private schools in Crown Heights-Edgemere Heights, like Trinity School, Westminster School, Putnam Heights Academy, and more.
Things to Do in Crown Heights-Edgemere Heights
See a family-friendly play at Jewel Box Theatre, the longest-running community theater in all of Oklahoma City. Go on First Friday gallery walks, attend the annual summer arts festival, or admire the historical Spanish Revival architecture in the Paseo Arts District. Play baseball, walk your dog, or play on the playground at Crown Heights Park. Jam out to live music, enjoy good food from local vendors, and view arts and handicrafts at the Uptown Outside block party. Wear your best bib and dig in to a plate of St. Louis Cut Pork Ribs, Brown Sugar Cured Beef Brisket, or a Pimento Cheese Burger at Iron Star Urban Barbecue. Expand your taste buds with Tebasaki or Tsukune Korokke for starters, then slurp some Tori Paitan ramen, Kare Mazemen, or Spicy Miso at Japanese noodle house Goro Ramen. Get your hands dirty while devouring a Bad to The Bone Burger, Drum Room Wrap, or The Horseshoe at casual American restaurant The Drum Room. Or leave the kids at home and enjoy date night with an Alejandro Onion Burger, Momma Virg’s Enchiladas, a refreshing glass of beer, and live music at VZD’s Restaurant & Bar.
Downtown Oklahoma City
Photo via @themontgomeryokc
- Home Price: $142,700 median purchase price; $793 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 4% of Oklahoma cities
Downtown OKC has the benefits of a big city—plenty of activities, restaurants, and events—while maintaining a strong community vibe. The districts within Downtown OKC each bring their own unique qualities, meaning there’s a wide range of diverse people and places. Midtown OKC hosts plenty of family-friendly annual events, like Merry Midtown or the Midtown Walkabout. Whereas historic warehouse district-turned-entertainment hub Bricktown offers plenty to do in OKC with over 45 brick-and-mortar shops, museums, and restaurants! Running through it is the Bricktown Canal, which flows toward the Oklahoma River. When it comes to quality education at schools like the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, John Rex Elementary School, and Odyssey Leadership Academy, you’ll have no shortage of top-tier schooling options in Oklahoma City.
Things to Do in Downtown OKC
Learn about the history of “America’s Instrument,” the banjo, try your hand at strumming during Pick A Tune with Lucas, or attend the annual Banjo Fest at the American Banjo Museum. Take a scenic walk through 15 acres of garden space, attend Pumpkinville, or see if you can spot all four art sculptures at the Myriad Botanical Gardens. Test your swinging skills over 18 mini golf holes of obstacles and a cascading waterfall, put on your safety vest for a laser tag mission, or mine for gemstones at Brickopolis. Put on your Oklahoma City Dodgers’ (MiLB) cap and watch them play after visiting the Jim Thorpe Museum at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. Order some Blueberry Streusel pancakes, The Coyote omelet, or the Chieftain’s Revenge at Hatch Early Mood Food. Dig into Mexican dishes like Chile Relleno & Enchilada, Soup and Reynosa Salad, and a Crispy Beef Taco for your young one at Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant. Slurp Miso Butter Corn Ramen, Curry Ramen, or Tsukemen at Tamashii. Or satisfy your seafood craving by eating some Chicken Andouille Gumbo, Cajun & Crab Shrimp Boil, or some Crawfish Etouffee at Pearl’s Crabtown.
Edmond
Photo via @michellemassiehomes
- Home Price: $207,000 median purchase price; $962 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 62% of Oklahoma cities
One of the best places to live in Oklahoma, Edmond has great restaurants, an awesome public art scene, and plenty of green space for families to enjoy. This OKC suburb has excellent public and private schools like Chisholm Elementary School and Oklahoma Christian Academy. Plus, it’s home to the University of Central Oklahoma, so kids can get both K-12 and higher education all within their hometown. Because Edmond is outside of Oklahoma City’s limits, it’s easier to find bigger houses and more spacious yards. Residents have a large range of home styles to browse—from ranch-style homes and cottages to large Craftsman and Tudor houses. It’s no wonder why this safe, affordable suburb is considered one of the best places to raise a family in OKC!
Things to Do in Edmond
Take advantage of tranquil waters and go fishing, camping, or boating at Arcadia Lake. Enjoy a jazz concert or ballet performance at Armstrong Auditorium. Marvel at more than 200 pieces of public art throughout Edmond—like space sculptures, murals, and kinetic pieces on an Art in Public Places Tour. Take the kids out for a casual dinner, round of bowling, and beat high scores at arcade games like Jurassic Park Arcade or Mario Kart at AMF Boulevard Lanes. Chow down a Ham, Mushroom, Ched Omelette, Cheddar Jalapeno Waffle, or Onion Burger while sipping on a Mocha Coffee or Downtown Tea at Around the Corner Restaurant. Start with an Hildago’s Sampler before digging in to comfort Mexican dishes, like Famous Peruvian Ceviche, Flauta Dinner, or Pollo Ranchero at Hidalgo’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina. Sample Baba Ghanouj, Kufta Kabob Sandwich, or Lamb Chop, and Baklava for dessert at Jerusalem Mediterranean Cuisine. Or dine on casual Italian fare like Manicotti, Scallipine, or Garlic Crusted Ribeye, and end your meal with a piece of Tiramisu at Othello’s.
Nichols Hills
Photo via @megan_jennkgroup
- Home Price: $636,800 median purchase price; $918 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 66% of Oklahoma cities
If you’re looking for an upscale, close-knit community, consider Nichols Hills. Located about 15 minutes north of Downtown OKC, this affluent suburb offers a fantastic quality of life for residents. With low crime rates and gated residences, Nichols Hills makes one of the safest places for families to live in the OKC metro area. Families also have their pick of schools, including Nichols Hills Elementary School, Belle Isle Enterprise Middle School, and Christ the King Catholic School. While this Oklahoma City neighborhood does have a higher cost of living than others, the amenities, housing options, and low crime rates make it worthwhile for anyone raising a family in OKC.
Things to Do in Nichols Hills
Shop boutique brands like Anthropologie, Fabletics, and Sur La Table at Classen Curve. Lace up your running shoes and hit the trails of Grand Boulevard Park. Take a swim, join a Ladies Night tennis session at the Aquatic Center, or play a casual round at Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club. Take a stroll, watch your kiddos play on the jungle gym, view the sculptures, or admire the colorfully-lit trees in the evening at Davis Park. Snag a table at neighborhood favorite Tokyo Japanese Restaurant, and try bite-sized sushi, Ramen, Pork Katsu Don, and the Tokyo Plate. Dine on the patio with some Muffaleta, Petit Pecan Crusted Salmon, or Chicken Marsala at Bellini’s Ristorante & Grill. Or enjoy a chill evening without the kids with dishes like Wood Fired Flat Iron Steak, Classen Burger, and Ahi Tuna Tartar with a draft beer at Republic Gastropub.
Yukon
Photo via @abide_realty_group
- Home Price: $130,500 median purchase price; $942 median monthly rent
- Crime Rate: Safer than 55% of Oklahoma cities
If your family is moving to Oklahoma City, consider family-friendly and affordable OKC suburb, Yukon! While you may have heard of the iconic Yukon’s Best Flour mill, this Oklahoma City suburb offers so much more than history. This safe, tight-knit prairie community is perfect for raising your family in a slower-paced environment—while still maintaining an easy, 20-minute drive to fun in Downtown OKC. Along with safe streets as well as Craftsman, Ranch, Traditional, Contemporary, and Colonial homes, families in Yukon can find large yards and green spaces perfect for playing until the street lamps come on. Plus, with 11 trail parks in this Oklahoma City suburb, families can cycle, jog, or enjoy long scenic walks as quality time. This safe OKC suburb is also served by Ranchwood Elementary School, Yukon Middle School, Yukon High School, and more, so you can rest assured your children will have quality school choices.
Things to Do in Yukon
Learn traditional Polka every Saturday evening, learn about Czech culture, or wander the Historic Hall in the Yukon Czech Hall—or join in the parade, Czech royalty crowning, Polka dancing, and mouthwatering food at Czech Festival in Downtown Yukon. Climb up the Cyrus Avery Observation Tower for a bird’s-eye view of Lake Overholser, or skate at Route 66 Park. Sharpen your aim with more than 20 targets at the indoor 3D range, or sign your child up for Junior Olympic Archery Development at Archery Traditions of Oklahoma. Chow down on Fried Deviled Eggs, The Lokal Bison Burger, or Bone-in Pork Chops at modern Okie restaurant, The Lokal Yukon. Craving New Orleans cuisine? Order Fried Oysters, a Crawfish Trio, or Creole Chicken from the lunch menu at The Big Easy. Share the love for New Mexican-style food with some Mini Navajo Tacos for appetizers, and order a hearty Green Chile Pork Stew or Grilled & Smothered Burrito at Green Chile Kitchen. Or dig in to comfort Italian food like homemade DeMedici flatbread, Lobster Bisque, Cannelloni Florentine, or Seafood Pomodoro at Primo’s.
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Neighborhood & suburb data from AreaVibes
