Cities like Norman or Stillwater might not sound like hotbeds of activity, but they're some of the best places to spend your retirement in Oklahoma. In fact, most areas in the Sooner State have a lower cost of living than other regions, and offer abundant opportunities for outdoor activities, shopping, dining, entertainment, and the arts. If you're considering spending your retirement in Oklahoma, take a look at a few of the state's most popular cities.
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- Tulsa - One of the state's two major cities, Tulsa offers both natural beauty and an urban lifestyle. If you're an outdoor enthusiast, visit one of the city's 144 parks or 26 miles of paved trails. There are also several museums, one of the nation's highest clusters of Art Deco buildings, and professional arts organizations including a ballet company, symphony, and an opera company. If sports is your thing, you can play at one the city's many golf courses or watch one of its professional sports teams. Despite the sometimes bustling vibe of the city, it's relatively easy to traverse. As MarketWatch notes, you're rarely more than 15 minutes away from anything in the city.
- Norman - Real estate blog Movoto named Norman, home of the University of Oklahoma, the No. 1 place to live in Oklahoma, and the magazine Where to Retire named the city as one of the eight best places in the nation to retire in 2014. Movoto cited several factors, including a median household income that's 16 percent higher than the rest of the state, while Where to Retire cited its affordable but high quality of life.
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- Stillwater - Another college town, Stillwater is home to Oklahoma State University, where seniors can take classes at the Academy of Lifelong Learning. The city also offers several lakes, parks, and golf courses, in addition to the 100-acre Oklahoma Botanic Garden & Arboretum. MarketWatch also cites the downtown area's walkability, which makes it easy for residents to take advantage of the nearby dining and shopping venues.
- Oklahoma City - The state's capitol city, Oklahoma City is home to universities and colleges, several professional sports teams, and artistic organizations including theater companies, a symphony, and multiple art museums and galleries. One of the city's biggest draws is Bricktown, located adjacent to downtown. Formerly a warehouse district, the area now houses a canal, restaurants and clubs, as well as special events. In 2014, Forbes magazine named Oklahoma City one of the nation's best places to retire, citing its healthy economy, low taxes, and a cost of living lower than the national average.
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