Considering an OKC relocation... info please (Norman, Lawton: for sale, house, safe neighborhood)

[TXDadof1]

We currently live in Fort Worth, TX. My wife has taken a promotion and hates it. Her commute is 90 minutes one way. We have been trying to move to a closer area here in DFW, but now my wife has the opportunity to accept a position in OKC. We both were raised in small towns and OKC is about 3 hours closer to our families. Just wanted to know if anyone can compare/contrast OKC to DFW?
Also- some other Q's
1- What is the OKC rush hour traffic like?
2- What areas are nice? We drive thru Norman and Moore all the time going to visit family in MO and Norman looks nice. What about other subs like Midwest City, Edmond? Anything nice west on 44 toward Lawton?
3- Are there any historic areas where we could buy an older (60+ yrs) home and still have a safe neighborhood and good schools for under $250K?
Thanks in advance for any responses. We are trying to decide between staying in DFW, moving to OKC, or moving to Wilmington, NC. (We used to live in NC, so we have a bias toward it, but family is so much closer to OKC)

[colleeng47]

Originally Posted by TXDadof1

We currently live in Fort Worth, TX. My wife has taken a promotion and hates it. Her commute is 90 minutes one way. We have been trying to move to a closer area here in DFW, but now my wife has the opportunity to accept a position in OKC. We both were raised in small towns and OKC is about 3 hours closer to our families. Just wanted to know if anyone can compare/contrast OKC to DFW?
Also- some other Q's
1- What is the OKC rush hour traffic like?
2- What areas are nice? We drive thru Norman and Moore all the time going to visit family in MO and Norman looks nice. What about other subs like Midwest City, Edmond? Anything nice west on 44 toward Lawton?
3- Are there any historic areas where we could buy an older (60+ yrs) home and still have a safe neighborhood and good schools for under $250K?
Thanks in advance for any responses. We are trying to decide between staying in DFW, moving to OKC, or moving to Wilmington, NC. (We used to live in NC, so we have a bias toward it, but family is so much closer to OKC)

Welcome to the forum. I am a soon to be Okie, so I can't help too much with your questions. I want to direct my comments to your statement about moving to NC. I'm currently in NJ, and lot of people from NJ have relocated to NC. If you check out the NC site, you may see some grumbling about the influx of new residents, and the lack of jobs. Just check it out before you decide. We just bought a house in OK and dh just was offered a very good job in OKC yesterday. We'll be travelling to OKC with our two teenagers at the beginning of March. We loved it when we visited a few weeks ago. The people in OK are friendly and very down to earth. I think moving there would be a very good decision.

[ready2fly]

We'll swap you! We're planning a move to Dallas this summer from OKC.

You will LOVE rush hour here compared to DFW. Our "traffic reports" are a joke, in a good way. On average, I'd guess you can travel about 15 miles in 20 minutes, so that encompasses a LOT of living options! However, like DFW, OKC does have sprawl, so traveling between opposite suburbs will take longer.

As far as suburbs, there's quite a range, depending on what you're desiring. If you want a faster (well, fast in OK) pace, Norman and Edmond are great. If you want more land, Yukon, Deer Creek and Moore are good. Midwest City is older, but it's experiencing regeneration. For a small town feel, try Choctaw or Piedmont.

Along I-44 toward Lawton, I'd try Blanchard, Newcastle and Ninnekah.

When comparing schools, this site will help you. It's run by Oklahoma:
Oklahoma School Report Cards

Good luck in your search!

[DrinkGreen]

I've been in Dallas traffic before. OKC traffic will be a cakewalk for you. The only complaint you might have is there is not a carpool lane for faster travel.

[#1soonerfan]

Originally Posted by TXDadof1

We currently live in Fort Worth, TX. My wife has taken a promotion and hates it. Her commute is 90 minutes one way. We have been trying to move to a closer area here in DFW, but now my wife has the opportunity to accept a position in OKC. We both were raised in small towns and OKC is about 3 hours closer to our families. Just wanted to know if anyone can compare/contrast OKC to DFW?
Also- some other Q's
1- What is the OKC rush hour traffic like?
2- What areas are nice? We drive thru Norman and Moore all the time going to visit family in MO and Norman looks nice. What about other subs like Midwest City, Edmond? Anything nice west on 44 toward Lawton?
3- Are there any historic areas where we could buy an older (60+ yrs) home and still have a safe neighborhood and good schools for under $250K?
Thanks in advance for any responses. We are trying to decide between staying in DFW, moving to OKC, or moving to Wilmington, NC. (We used to live in NC, so we have a bias toward it, but family is so much closer to OKC)

OK I've been trolling these boards for a while so I guess its time to actually answer someone's question instead of lurking....

TXDadof1, I am actually a college student from DFW (grew up in Plano going to OU) and traffic on my side of the metroplex has always been awful...its unfortunate to see that Ft Worth is now getting bad as well. If you are looking for a historic area with good schools I would definitely vouch for the older areas of Norman. It is a great college town with a quaint historic district and the schools are top notch. One downside...the nicer homes rarely ever come on the market and get snapped up fast when they do. This is also a college town with 25,000 students (add another 70,000 to that on game days) and if you live too close to campus you may have to deal with some drunk frat boy ranting in the middle of the street. That being said, I would hardly consider OU a rowdy campus.

A close second would be some of the older historic districts around OKC like Mesta Park (boss lives here and LOVES it!), Heritage Hills, Crown Heights, etc. Some of the schools beyond the primary level may be a little sketchy as it is OKC Schools, which are improving but still have some work to do. You will, however be convenient to the city and all it has to offer.

Speaking of convenience, the commutes in OKC compared to where your coming from is a cakewalk. Case in point: I had an internship at an oil company near the state capitol last summer while still living in Norman (a good 28 miles one way). I can remember one day where it was flooding, there were three wrecks, and had to go through a major construction project, and it still took me slightly over an hour to commute home. That was the LONGEST drive I've ever encountered while in OKC.

Since I've been here, I've grown a fond appreciation of this area. The people are top-notch and the area is really improving with its attractions and opportunities. It reminds me of a smaller version of Dallas-Fort Worth before the insane, out-of control growth hit. In fact I am seriously considering taking a job offer in OKC just so I can stay here, but we'll see. Anyway, I think you and your family will really like it here.

Oh, and I apologize for such a long first post

[happytown]

Originally Posted by #1soonerfan

OK I've been trolling these boards for a while so I guess its time to actually answer someone's question instead of lurking....

TXDadof1, I am actually a college student from DFW (grew up in Plano going to OU) and traffic on my side of the metroplex has always been awful...its unfortunate to see that Ft Worth is now getting bad as well. If you are looking for a historic area with good schools I would definitely vouch for the older areas of Norman. It is a great college town with a quaint historic district and the schools are top notch. One downside...the nicer homes rarely ever come on the market and get snapped up fast when they do. This is also a college town with 25,000 students (add another 70,000 to that on game days) and if you live too close to campus you may have to deal with some drunk frat boy ranting in the middle of the street. That being said, I would hardly consider OU a rowdy campus.

A close second would be some of the older historic districts around OKC like Mesta Park (boss lives here and LOVES it!), Heritage Hills, Crown Heights, etc. Some of the schools beyond the primary level may be a little sketchy as it is OKC Schools, which are improving but still have some work to do. You will, however be convenient to the city and all it has to offer.

Speaking of convenience, the commutes in OKC compared to where your coming from is a cakewalk. Case in point: I had an internship at an oil company near the state capitol last summer while still living in Norman (a good 28 miles one way). I can remember one day where it was flooding, there were three wrecks, and had to go through a major construction project, and it still took me slightly over an hour to commute home. That was the LONGEST drive I've ever encountered while in OKC.

Since I've been here, I've grown a fond appreciation of this area. The people are top-notch and the area is really improving with its attractions and opportunities. It reminds me of a smaller version of Dallas-Fort Worth before the insane, out-of control growth hit. In fact I am seriously considering taking a job offer in OKC just so I can stay here, but we'll see. Anyway, I think you and your family will really like it here.

Oh, and I apologize for such a long first post

Great unbiased opinion. Hope you enjoy OKC if you move. It sounds like you will. Great time to invest in a flourishing city!
Nichols Hills (inner city)and Edgemere Park and Belle Isle ect. ect. are also great neighborhoods to live in.

[Miss/L]

My advice is don't move to OKC or anywhere else in Oklahoma unless you love the Sooners and want better traffic. The people are not friendly, like you are used to. There is also nothing to do here and nowhere to drive to that's that interesting.

[peggydavis]

Oh, I think people in OKC are friendly, especially if someone has a positive attitude toward others.

[eddie gein]

Originally Posted by TXDadof1

We currently live in Fort Worth, TX. My wife has taken a promotion and hates it. Her commute is 90 minutes one way. We have been trying to move to a closer area here in DFW, but now my wife has the opportunity to accept a position in OKC. We both were raised in small towns and OKC is about 3 hours closer to our families. Just wanted to know if anyone can compare/contrast OKC to DFW?
Also- some other Q's
1- What is the OKC rush hour traffic like?
2- What areas are nice? We drive thru Norman and Moore all the time going to visit family in MO and Norman looks nice. What about other subs like Midwest City, Edmond? Anything nice west on 44 toward Lawton?
3- Are there any historic areas where we could buy an older (60+ yrs) home and still have a safe neighborhood and good schools for under $250K?
Thanks in advance for any responses. We are trying to decide between staying in DFW, moving to OKC, or moving to Wilmington, NC. (We used to live in NC, so we have a bias toward it, but family is so much closer to OKC)

I will address item #3. Edmond, Norman, Shawnee, Guthrie and Yukon will have some of those older homes you are talking about. Chickasha which is down I-44 has the best bargains on those old homes. You can get into one for less than 70 dollars a square foot. I have a 1925 square foot home for sale in the heart of town there for 115K. Chickasha is about 40 minutes from downtown OKC.

Norman and Edmond will be very pricey and Shawnee, Guthrie and Yukon will be more than Chickasha but less than the others.

Towns that WILL NOT have this type of inventory include Moore, Mustang, Newcastle, Piedmont, Spencer, Jones, Blanchard, Del City, Midwest City, Choctaw, (these are all either tiny towns that have grown or in the case of MWC, Del City didn't exist until WWII).

If it were me I would consider Norman, Edmond, Guthrie, Yukon and Chickasha if this is what you want.

If you don't mind the newer type homes Moore and Choctaw are not bad.

Also, if you commute to NW OKC then Kingfisher has a few of those older homes.

[happytown]

IMO....#3 is clearly in favor of OKC proper. More than 9 historic neighborhoods which all obviously have the oldest homes, best architecture and more choices/millions of homes. Most of these neighborhoods are going through a major renaissance with OKC putting a huge emphasis in developing its downtown/midtown and the array of historic districts ect. ect.

Too much sophisticated development, renovated properties, private and public investment for other subs to even begin to compete. The list goes on and on.

Public projects from Maps to Maps for kids is forcing a change in the OKC school system/Lots of Blue Ribbon Schools along with tons of great private schools as options (many are very affordable) ect.

We are talking about billions of dollars invested into OKCs urban core. Its time to wake up. Even other parts of the country are understanding whats going on in OKC proper before many Okies. Comparing a real city with lots of history and culture to subs IMO is really a joke, especially a city that is going through so many major incredible changes.

Most people get drawn into subs only to find themselves looking to find more culture/more to do in a mid-major city like OKC. It really is time to stop ignoring the changes. So many developments helping out the community that it is impossible to even keep up with them. OKC proper is no longer a hard sell.

Take Nichols Hills as an example. You can easily find a nice old home for 250, maybe not a mansion and have a great blue ribbon school that is better than any school in the subs. It goes up to eighth grade, you then fork over a little dough for a great high school like Casady. All of a sudden your kid gets a scholarship to Harvard.