Bartlesville (Tulsa, Ponca City, Nowata: skyscrapers, hoa, income)

[elgusano]

My wife and I are considering the necessity of moving south in order to be somewhat nearer to aging family members. (We currently live in Alaska.) We're not used to a city as big as Bartlesville, but we have family there.

What are some of the pros and cons of living there? Cost of living to income ratio? Available jobs? Are there a lot of those irritating, loud, thumping stereos? Does your closeness to a big city bring the big city problems out to Bartlesville?

Thanks.

[TheComputerGuy]

Originally Posted by elgusano

My wife and I are considering the necessity of moving south in order to be somewhat nearer to aging family members. (We currently live in Alaska.) We're not used to a city as big as Bartlesville, but we have family there.

What are some of the pros and cons of living there? Cost of living to income ratio? Available jobs? Are there a lot of those irritating, loud, thumping stereos? Does your closeness to a big city bring the big city problems out to Bartlesville?

Thanks.

Bartlesville is less busy than Juno or Anchoage, and probably not a "big city" by most peoples' standards (compared to say Boston which I KNOW intimately) and as far as stereos go, I would assume it depends on your proximity to your neighbors...

Don't let the one famous Frank Lloyd Wright skyscraper fool you into thinking it a BIG CITY.

I'm a reasonably new OK (Tulsa) resident, so this advice is worth what you paid for it.

Perhaps some of my more knowledgeable forum mates will be so kind as to give you better info.

[mkfarnam]

KariBear could probably fit your comparisons best. She lives in OK and is formerly from Alaska.

[elgusano]

I'm from a town of 4,000 that is 70 miles from the next comparable city.

As far as employment, I drive a bus, preach, make stained glass windows, and teach classes.

[Howest2008]

Bartlesville isn't even considered in the Tulsa Metro area (yet) maybe by 2010 it will be , by the way Bartlesville doesn't have a very Urban feel or Vibe , you should really enjoy it coming from Alaska and if Bartlesville does one day get too urban all you have to do is move East To Nowata or North To Dewey Oklahoma. I was born in Nowata OK and moved to Tulsa when I was 2 years old where I stayed until I tranferred out of the Air Force National Guard into the Coast Guard and served a year and a half on the U.S.C.G. Cutter Sweetbrier in Cordova Alaska(I think that's how you spell it)in (1976-77) and if you like your lifestyle more rural and less urban than what Bartlesville has to offer just try moving to Dewey or Nowata OK.

[Bass&Catfish2008]

Originally Posted by elgusano

My wife and I are considering the necessity of moving south in order to be somewhat nearer to aging family members. (We currently live in Alaska.) We're not used to a city as big as Bartlesville, but we have family there.

What are some of the pros and cons of living there? Cost of living to income ratio? Available jobs? Are there a lot of those irritating, loud, thumping stereos? Does your closeness to a big city bring the big city problems out to Bartlesville?

Thanks.

Bartlesville is a very nice family-oriented community. (Most towns in OK are.) It does not have a big city feel at all....typical Okie town: nice folks that will go out of their way to help you, generally southern/southwestern culture, easy-goin church folk, and if I remember correctly DINK'S BBQ is in Bartlesville, which is some of the best BBQ you'll ever eat. (Not to mention that you're right next door to world famous Headcountry BBQ over in Ponca City!)

LOL, I would be shocked if there were any "loud thumping stereos"....Bartlesville is not the type of town that "thugs" would make their home.

The standard of living is very nice. Most commodities are cheaper in OK as well as a pretty good housing market. As far as jobs go, someone else on this board is going to have to help you.

Personally, I cannot think of a con. Bartlesville is a great community and I would love to live their myself Good luck with your move and becoming a bonafied Okie

[Synopsis]

Bartlesville has always been one of my favorite cities. It's a great place and I think you'll like it very much. BTW, it's NOT a big city. I think there are around 30,000 people, and as CG says, don't let the skyscrapers fool you.

[StillwaterTownie]

But, seriously, the skyscrapers really do rob Bartlesville of a small town feel. The enclosed shopping mall also is a characteristic that isn't small town like. So anyone calling Bartlesville a typical Okie town is way off base, make no doubt about it. And I know it as well as felt it because I have actually visited Bartlesville before. Believe me, I was absolutely shocked by all the skyscrapers downtown. It sure wasn't Mayberry USA!

[Goodpasture]

I love Bartlesville......large enough to have all you really need (including some good restaurants), small enough to have a 10 minute rush hour. Did I mention that they have free wifi throughout downtown?

BTW, if you want a really nice little town, but close to larger areas, try Pawhuska. an entire antique downtown, county seat for the Osage, close to Tulsa, closer to Bartlesville, lots of ranch and farm land. Lots of really good people.

[StillwaterTownie]

Yeah, I love Bartleville, too, for the reasons you cite, along with it being so unusual and unexpected looking for an Oklahoma town.