8 Safest Cities in Oklahoma (2024 Update)
- Pete Ortiz
- Last updated:
Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website
Ask any government employee what’s the single most important task of any branch of the government, and they’ll tell you to ensure public safety. And that’s why you see countries that have been riddled with poverty talk about how crime has held back their plans of urbanization, which is essential to economic development.
The following cities understand this, and that’s why they are now considered the safest cities in Oklahoma.
The 8 Safest Cities in Oklahoma: A Quick Look
1. Alva, OK
Population | 4,819 |
Average Household Income | $63,130 |
Poverty Rate | 15.46% |
Violent crime in 2021 | 40 per 100,000 people |
If you’re thinking about moving to a different city with your family, this is one of the best options out there. The city of Alva has so many amenities, including the Sod House Museum, Little Sahara State Park, Salt Plain National Wildlife Refuge, and Bradt’s Menagerie entertainment center.
In terms of population, Alva is a very small city. It’s home to 4,819 people, but previously we had 4,945 people. Seeing as it covers a small geographical area, the city kind of feels crowded. And that’s the reason why its population density currently stands at 753 people per square mile.
When you draw parallels with cities nearby, you’ll realize that the poverty rate in Alva is absurdly high. We’re talking about a 15.46% index, in a state that has cities registering indices that are lower than 5%.
The silver lining is, real estate is not as costly as it is in those other cities. The median house value is $94,900, and the average income earned per household is $63,130. In addition, Alva’s cost of living index is 18% lower than the national average.
If we had to give crime a rating, we would comfortably give it an A+. No murder, rape, or robbery was reported in the last 12 months, save for a few assault cases. The violent crime rate stands at 40 per 100,000 people, while property crime is at 1,011 per 100,000 people.
2. Bixby, OK
Population | 29,098 |
Average Household Income | $107,302 |
Poverty Rate | 5.69% |
Violent crime in 2021 | 69 per 100,000 people |
Bixby got its name from Tams Bixby. He was one of the members and the chair of the Dawes Commission, back in the day. It has a population of 29,098 as of 2020, which is a 39.33% increase. Our statistical charts also indicate that its annual growth rate is at 2.02%, meaning its 1,170 people per square mile population density will quickly rise in the next few years.
Bixby has some of the top-rated schools in the nation. But that’s not the only reason why people move there, as it offers that sparse suburban feel as well.
Most people in Bixby prefer buying homes to renting them. The median house value is $223,900 and the rate of poverty is only at 5.69%. On average, the income earned per household is $107,302.
Crime has been dropping even though it has never reached alarming levels. There’s zero murder reported in the past 12 months; the property crime rate is now 66% lower than the national average, and the violent crime rate is 69 per 100,000 people.
3. Jenks, OK
Population | 24,781 |
Average Household Income | $90,039 |
Poverty Rate | 7.42%. |
Violent crime in 2021 | 69 per 100,000 people |
Jenks has been among the best places to live in for years. It’s in Tulsa County, and most of the people who live there are warm and welcoming towards strangers. Speaking of which, Jenks has a population of 24,781 as of 2020, up from the 16,924 figure recorded in 2010. That huge spike in population can be attributed to several things, one of them being the fact that Jenks offers that peaceful rural feel that most city dwellers yearn for.
Real estate has been appreciating for a while now. The median house value is $214,300, and that’s not good for investors looking to achieve financial freedom through property investment.
Crime is at an all-time low, as the rate of property crime stands at 1,063 per 100,000 people. No murder incidences were reported as of December 2021, but there were a few cases of assault, robbery, and rape. They are the reason why the crime rate moved up to 69 per 100,000 people.
Either way, total crime is 50% below the national average.
4. Piedmont, OK
Population | 9,357 |
Average Household Income | $104,871 |
Poverty Rate | 1.90% |
Violent crime in 2021 | 78 per 100,000 people |
The city of Piedmont was initially known as Mildred. But for some reason, the founding fathers found that name ridiculous, and decided to change it to Piedmont. Anyway, Piedmont is a city in the Canadian county, and it has a population of 9,357. This is actually a 63.58% increase from the previous figure, which was 5,720. It’s not densely populated though, as it only has 215 people per square mile.
If you’re an investor looking to make a good real estate investment in Piedmont, you’ll have to be ready to spend a lot of money. The houses are so costly, as well as the rental costs. Data recently collected shows that the annual income earned per household averages $104,871.
Is poverty an issue in Piedmont? Not at all. The poverty rate currently stands at 1.90%, a clear indication that those residents are doing well for themselves.
Crime is almost nonexistent. It’s one of the few places where zero murder was reported in the last year, with a violent crime rate of 78 per 100,000 people. Burglary and theft, all of which account for property crime, were also significantly low. The Federal Bureau of Investigations reported that they dropped to an index of 75%, meaning it’s 25% lower than the national average.
5. Blanchard, OK
Population | 9,247 |
Average Household Income | $100,179 |
Poverty Rate | 6.68% |
Violent crime in 2021 | 88 per 100,000 people |
The first thing we realized about Blanchard was how tight knit that community was. They looked after one another and made sure everyone was kept in the loop regarding community affairs.
This is the kind of city that we would move to, if we were searching for places to raise a young family, and away from the hustle and bustle. The only downside is the schools are not brag-worthy.
As of 2020, Blanchard had a population of 9,247. A 20.56% increase from the 7,670 recorded in the last census. It’s also not all that densely populated, as you’ll only be able to meet 312 people, for every square mile that you cover.
Houses are pretty expensive here, as the median value is estimated to be $191,700, with a median rental cost of $743 per month. It’s one of the cities with a poverty rate that’s incredibly low, currently at 6.68%. Concerning the average household income, it’s at $100,179.
If Blanchard can curb the problem of burglary and vehicle theft, they’ll be able to turn that whole area into paradise. We’re not saying that property crime is a matter of serious concern, but they could have done a lot better on the scale if the reported incidences were less.
Property crime rate is presently at 1,001 per 100,000 people, while violent crime is 88 per 100,000 people. Again, there was zero murder reported.
6. Choctaw, OK
Population | 12,900 |
Average Household Income | $92,993 |
Poverty Rate | 5.43% |
Violent crime in 2021 | 93 per 100,000 people |
It’s been years since this happened, but Choctaw was once rated the best performing city in Oklahoma by city-data.com. We are now this year, still listing Choctaw as one of the cities with the lowest crime rates! That alone is enough to erase any doubt that you might have concerning your safety.
With a population of 12,900, Choctaw has one of the finest fire and police departments, a top-notch healthcare system, and some of the best schools in the country. Basically, it’s a city that balances quality rural life and economic vitality.
The cost of living is 8% below the national average, and the average income per household is $92,993. We presume a lot of people are living a more comfortable life, seeing as the poverty rate is only at 5.43%.
The property crime rate is 1,307, while the violet rate stands at 93 per 100,000 people. Unfortunately, there was one murder incident reported last year.
7. Tuttle, OK
Population | 7,781 people |
Average Household Income | $101,377 |
Poverty Rate | 3.71% |
Violent crime in 2021 | 142 per 100,000 people |
The first thing that comes to mind when we think about Tuttle city is the schooling system. It has one of the best systems in Oklahoma, that’s completely supported by the community. Those schools excel in everything, including in extracurricular activities. It’s like going to a small school, that’s not really a small school.
As expected, the community is tight knit. And we believe that’s because the city only has a population of 7,781 people. You must play nice and refrain from instigating any sort of trouble, or you’ll be ostracized.
The annual household income in Tuttle is $101,377 on average, and you can tell most people are living a comfortable life with a poverty rate of 3.71%. Property and violent crime rate stand at 811 and 142 per 100,000 people, respectively.
8. Mustang, OK
Population | 24,773 |
Average Household Income | $84,037 |
Poverty Rate | 4.87% |
Violent crime in 2021 | 203 per 100,000 people |
When it comes to public safety, you’ll always find Mustang among the top 8 cities in Oklahoma. But if you’re looking for a town that’s a little less crowded, it’s not the place to be. Over the past couple of years, so many people have relocated to this city. The population used to be 17,395. But now it’s at 24,773. And because its geographical area is small, the population density has risen to 2,067 people per square mile.
The poverty rate has slightly dipped to 4.87%, but there are no significant changes in the household income, which still stands at $84,037.
The total crime index is 52% below the national average, with a property crime rate of 1,027 per 100,000 people. No murder had been reported as of December last year, and that’s something that anyone would want to hear if they are planning to relocate to Oklahoma.
Conclusion
We would like to conclude this by reminding you that it’s your responsibility as well to ensure other people feel safe whenever they are out shopping, dining, jogging, or just having a good time. Don’t leave everything to the government. That’s not how this works.
Featured Image Credit: City Hall Choctaw Oklahoma (Image Credit: kennethaw88-Wikimedia-Commons CC BY 4.0)
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