Is OKC the next "Austin"? (Oklahoma City, Tulsa: high school, cost of living)

[walker1962]

Originally Posted by Bass&Catfish2008

That RedDirt stuff is really good though, and OK City has plenty of it.

A lot of my professional work entails following economic trends and I've been to both cities several times. There is nothing about OKC that equates to Austin other than they both are state capitals in the southwest part of the USA. OKC just doesn't have enough aspects to enable it to be what Austin has become:


1. Its not in Texas where it can benefit from the wealth of its large corporate magnets of DFW and Houston;
2. Its nowhere near as physically attractive as Austin;
3. Austin benefits from foreign trade with Mexico since Texas is a border state;
4. UT Austin is just straight up a better school than OU in suburban OKC. That's not my opinion but that of those in higher education. Austin also can draw from a lot more good schools in Texas whereas OKC only has Oklahoma state besides OU. Let's not even bring U of Tulsa in the conversation.
5. The surrounding area of Austin draws retirees with good net worth. No one considers OU as a retirement destination unless they are like from OK or Kansas. Those retirees can draw relatives who can add to the workforce.
6. There is no history of technology incubators in OKC like there has been in Austin since the 1980s with IBM and Admiral Bobby Iman who headed a consortium.

[walker1962]

Originally Posted by bawac34618

Yeah OKC really can't be mentioned in the same breath as Memphis, Nashville, and Louisville yet. It's more of an Albuquerque or a Wichita. People know it because they have to pass through it on their way to somewhere else but know little else about it. The Thunder is helping put it on the map so people at least know where its at, but its problem is that its the ultimate "flyover" city. Also, conservatism and suburbia isn't really "hip" right now.

Memphis is no better than OKC. Nashville has surpassed Memphis. Hell, I remember several times Memphis tried and failed to get an NFL of USFL football team. When the Oilers left Houston, they played one year there and never reconsidered their planned move to Nashville. Louisville? It's no larger than OKC. Its probably better looking but other than that, I see little difference.

[walker1962]

Originally Posted by Peter1948

Well, Memphis has the Grizzlies.

Louisville is a serious contender for NBA and MLS.

What you may not realize is that UofL sports ARE like an NBA team from an entertainment and arena perspective.

Louisville bests OKC in art, food, architecture, and overall culture. Until recently Louisville was bigger but OKC passed it in metro size largely due to a recent, oil fueled growth spurt. For all practical purposes the two metros are essentially the same size and OKC would be blessed to be as vibrant as Louisville. Nashville? That's a far off stretch.

Since when did Louisville become a contender for an NBA team? Art? I don't see it. OKC has western themed art. Now I would not put Louisville below OKC and thinks its more attractive but overall, about the same.

[walker1962]

Originally Posted by Peter1948

The more I travel again to revisit metros I visited the first time around, the more I realize every downtown is honestly doing well, its just some are booming more than others. OKC is doing very well and is a nice town, but will take decades to really feel like a "big city." I'd be curious to see if it can poach more people tired of TX sprawl as an alternative. That will be its key.

If you could pick a single project/vision/neighborhood that is transformational in OKC, what would it be?

OKC really reminds me of Indianapolis 20 years ago. It takes a beating but its actually a nice place to live, particularly with kids and a growing job base, thus its growth.

To the point of the post....Nashville, Louisville, Richmond, heck, even Omaha and Grand Rapids feel more like an "austin like" vibe than OKC. Don't forget Austin was peers with these cities in 2000, and now is knocking on the door of the Portland and Cleveland's of the world.

OKC/OK poaching people FROM Texas!? Texas sprawl!? Have you spent much time in Texas? Texas is as big as FRANCE - 900 miles east to west and almost 1,000 miles from the Colorado border to McAllen. Texas is not all big cities clogged with traffic. In fact, unlike a lot of big coastal cities, they build roads here. They are adding lightrail in D/FW, Houston and Austin.


And if you drive an hour or so from the center of many big cities, viola!, country or small town living beckons. Head north on 183 from Austin and its wide open spaces. head northwest of Houston along 290 toward Texas A&M and its rolling hills and lots of land.


Weather wise, it would make no sense to move to Oklahoma, ground zero for tornadic activity. Literally, the weather is more extreme with colder winters and just as hot summers. Healthcare, as far as accessibility, neither is great but Texas has much better specialists, especially at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, the largest in the world.


No one in Texas would retire to Oklahoma unless for family reasons. Personally, I'd move to NM before OK. If I had a great retirement fund, I'd be headed to the west coast.

[walker1962]

Originally Posted by jcx456

I've lived in areas where all 3 of those disasters are possible to occur and even likely. I've never been in any imminent danger from a hurricane. I've never experienced a big earthquake or one that did any damage. I've had 3 separate instances where a tornado came within 1 mile or less of where I was. One of those times was a direct hit. Go figure, huh. Tornadoes are no joke.



It isn't even the top city in the state it's in. It's at best, the 3rd best city in Texas and realistically, it's probably the 4th best. So top 10 in the US? Lol. Hey Austin, get back to us when you actually have at least one big 4 professional sports team, when recreational cannabis is legal to complement your live music scene or when you're consistently listed as at least a Gamma city, let alone a Beta or an Alpha. Until then simmer down and learn to be more humble. Grandiose delusions much?

You ain't no Denver. They have a comparable urban population to Austin along with all the hipsters and food trucks one could desire. However, they also have 4 pro sports teams, legal recreational cannabis and truly world class outdoor recreational opportunities. You're over here bullying little old OKC, when you should be picking on someone your own size. Step up to your weight class and get knocked out by a real world city like Denver. I do feel sorry for Austin though, cause it doesn't really fit in well. Too small to hang with the big boys of the world, yet too big that it comes off as a bully when compared to cities like OKC, for example. Maybe that's exactly what Austin wants though, to be in a category all by itself.



I've been a Vegetarian for over a decade and a Vegan for several years now. I've also lived in several states and traveled to almost all of them. Texas is easily the least Vegetarian/Vegan friendly state that I've ever lived in/traveled in. It's not even close. The culture in Texas is so meat centric. Everything is BBQ this and steak that. Based on my experience I think that most Texans honestly get offended by it, either that or they are ignorant or just flat out insular. Some Texans seriously didn't even know what I was talking about when I would tell them I was Vegan. I'd get the old, "Oh I've never heard of that before. You're weird." Or something really similar.

First, what is your context to say Austin may not even be the 3rd best city? Second, having pro teams is not all what makes a city big league. Technically, Denver Dan, Austin city proper has MORE residents than the Capital of Colorado and not by just a 10 or 50,000 residents. Austin BLEW by Denver a good 10 years ago. Austin is hurt in terms of Pro franchises by its proximity to THREE other cities nearby with LARGE populations (cities for the last TWENTY years with populations ranking in the top 10-15 in the country). As a result, those franchises aren't really interested in competition. Second, Austin has the University of Texas for a lot of its sports attraction and the Spurs are an hour south.


Denver has benefitted from being THE primary city for basically the Mountain Time Zone so its more of a regional hub than Austin, i.e. NO competing nearby metro areas or jobs, corporate relocations. PLEASE don't try to put Colorado Springs or K.C. Mo or Vegas as true competitors because they pale in comparison to Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth or San Antonio.


Austin is BY FAR a bigger Tech hub than Denver. In terms of entertainment value, outside of Denver's NFL, MLB and NHL teams, Austin is a better place. You have no SXSW, No Austin City Limits, NO US Grand Prix (come see all those Europeans who FLOCK to Austin for that). Hell, Austin is on the PGA tour now (one of the prettiest courses on the schedule)! PGA left Denver like 10 years ago. Austin has great wine country to the west. Austin/Hill Country has great swimming holes and some good biking.


Yea, Texans like their MEAT just like 90% of AMERICANS. You act like its the other way around, i.e. Vegan is the what/who most of us are! Vegan is far in the minority, even more so than Vegetarians. No Texans don't get offended. That's stupid. Most people don't know about vegan because they don't CARE. Its call antipathy toward something that's not material to their lives. I'm sure MOST Texans know what a vegetarian is and really again don't care. You eat what you want to eat. Newsflash, MOST of the world likes to eat meat for taste and protein.


Yes, Denver has its appeal for sure. Nice Mountain views to the WEST. Lets talk about what you see to the east of I 25...FLAT, BLAND, GRASS LAND as far as the eye can see. Might as well be Kansas. That's what Denver never wants to show... and where is a good sized lake nearby? Ain't one. Austin has string a great lakes, springs and rivers.


And why is housing so much more expensive than Austin? its not like there a shortage of prairie on which to build. I checked because I interviewed for a job there, cost of housing was a joke.


There's a reason Austin has outpaced growth in Denver...actually several and Austin isn't desperate enough to legalize pot to help it earn revenue.

[eddie gein]

Well, well, well. Walker Texas Ranger is on here doing what Texans do best. Spouting misinformation.

OKC/OK poaching people FROM Texas!? No one in Texas would retire to Oklahoma unless for family reasons.

Must be a lot of Texans moving to Oklahoma "for family reasons", huh?

http://demographics.texas.gov/Resour...cMigration.pdf

Out-Migrants
From Texas
1 California
2 Oklahoma
3 Colorado
4 Louisiana
5 Florida
6 Arizona
7 Washington
8 New Mexico
9 Arkansas
10 New York

Texas experienced negative net domestic migration with Colorado and Oklahoma.
In other words, Texas lost more migrants to Colorado
and Oklahoma than it gained from these two states.

[StillwaterTownie]

Originally Posted by eddie gein

Well, well, well. Walker Texas Ranger is on here doing what Texans do best. Spouting misinformation.





Must be a lot of Texans moving to Oklahoma "for family reasons", huh?

http://demographics.texas.gov/Resour...cMigration.pdf

Out-Migrants
From Texas
1 California
2 Oklahoma
3 Colorado
4 Louisiana
5 Florida
6 Arizona
7 Washington
8 New Mexico
9 Arkansas
10 New York

Texas experienced negative net domestic migration with Colorado and Oklahoma.
In other words, Texas lost more migrants to Colorado
and Oklahoma than it gained from these two states.

I wonder, if they're now miserable about having moved to Oklahoma. For instance, they must be tired of being surprised of having to pay tax on food.

[Howest2008]

Originally Posted by KayneMo

Meh, much more than a few and not hard to find: Heritage Hills, Mesta Park, Lincoln Terrace, Medical Community, Edgemere Park, Edgemere Heights, Crown Heights, Deep Deuce, the Canal, Paseo, Miller, Crestwood, Linwood, Venice, Las Vegas, Cleveland, Shepherd, Sheridan Hills, Brookhaven, Putnam Heights, Bush Hills, Mayfair Heights, Windsor Oaks, Royal Oaks, Denniston Park, Wildewood, Apple Valley, etc.

There are ugly areas, but overall I don't see OKC as "incredibly ugly".

Why don't you take some photos of those lovely neighborhoods and post it for us???

[Howest2008]

OKIES.........
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okie


Calies In The Red State Of OKLAHOMA.......
https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/mone...oma12_CV_N.htm


Who would have THONg.....
Data shows where Oklahomans move to, from | News OK

[Howest2008]

Originally Posted by eddie gein

Well, well, well. Walker Texas Ranger is on here doing what Texans do best. Spouting misinformation.





Must be a lot of Texans moving to Oklahoma "for family reasons", huh?

http://demographics.texas.gov/Resour...cMigration.pdf

Out-Migrants
From Texas
1 California
2 Oklahoma
3 Colorado
4 Louisiana
5 Florida
6 Arizona
7 Washington
8 New Mexico
9 Arkansas
10 New York

Texas experienced negative net domestic migration with Colorado and Oklahoma.
In other words, Texas lost more migrants to Colorado
and Oklahoma than it gained from these two states.

Yes Eddie it's true Texassns do sprout a lot of Mis-Information but they are so Entertaining that theg cancelled out the fact that some of them are Pathological Liar...LOL.