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Texas by far. I lived in North Texas 15 miles from the OK border at one point, and there was very little difference on either side of border. There's a reason they call it Texoma. Is there an are called Kanoma or Oklasas? Oklahoma is also has a lot of varied topography, like Texas. It's not all flat like some people think. Going through Eastern OK, you could be going through the Texas Hill Country. Southwestern OK by Lawton and Altus is a lot like northern Texas. North Texas just blends into Oklahoma.
In the word of Okie songwriting genius John Fulbright "northern Oklahoma might as well be Kansas/never go to southern Oklahoma at night".
Kansas and Oklahoma are pretty far apart on a number of statistical measures, even if they are both smaller states with modest population growth. It is a bit difficult to compare either with mega-state Texas which in many ways is like multiple states in one - parts of which do indeed resemble Oklahoma.
College graduates in 2015-2019:
33.4% - KS
32.1% - USA average
29.9% - TX
25.5% - OK
The Kansas City suburbs have a critical mass of white collar affluence that goes far beyond what exists in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metros. As others have mentioned, KC has a much more substantial and diverse economy which isn't quite at the level of Denver or the Twin Cities, but unrivaled in the central Plains.
Sorry, but Tulsa is wealthier than Kansas City.
GDP per capita in each MSA (2018):
Tulsa: $55,436
KC: $53,745
OKC: $48,935
In the word of Okie songwriting genius John Fulbright "northern Oklahoma might as well be Kansas/never go to southern Oklahoma at night".
That's surely most true for the northern Oklahoma counties that border on Kansas, like from Ponca City and on to the west. East of there, like at Bartlesville, Tulsa has a greater influence than Kansas.
GDP per capita in each MSA (2018):
Tulsa: $55,436
KC: $53,745
OKC: $48,935
In defense of jas75's post, these income/gdp type stats are all over the place. I've seen some with KC way ahead of OKC and Tulsa. Some with Tulsa ahead.
And this one (which is a median income survey) shows OKC ahead of both KC and Tulsa.
This post is an interesting one in that Kansas and Oklahoma do share the fact that they haven't boomed and become more diverse and "vibrant" like Texas.
However the idea that 80% of Oklahoma is "depressing and boring". A good half of Texas is a vast wasteland that makes Kansas and Oklahoma look verdant and prosperous. If it weren't for oil it would be the most desolate place in the country save maybe Nevada.
Well the vast majority of Oklahoma is depressing. Kansas too. By land area, that’s absolutely a true statement for Texas as well. Come to think of it, it is for most states.
But all three states also have some great things too. It’s just hard to compare either state to Texas because Texas is so much larger.
Well the vast majority of Oklahoma is depressing. Kansas too. By land area, that’s absolutely a true statement for Texas as well. Come to think of it, it is for most states.
But all three states also have some great things too. It’s just hard to compare either state to Texas because Texas is so much larger.
In all honesty I'm just sensitive to getting picked on by Texans.
I live in what would be considered the depressing part of Oklahoma and have lived in west Texas. Lubbock and Alpine. The magic out here is the vastness of the sky and the incredible sunrises and sunsets and your ability to see forever.
These are the only advantages in not having any trees.
Chickasaw Country is like N Texas
Frontier Country is like N Texas (aka the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex)
Great Plains Country is like N Texas
Green Country is like Arkansas
Choctaw Country is like SW Arkansas, NW Louisiana, NW Texas
Red Carpet Country is like the Texas Panhandle (but that rural industrial cowboy vibe of the Texas Panhandle has been moving north into KS, like Liberal)
There is no part of Oklahoma, except maybe the cities north of Enid and Ponca City, that really feel more like Kansas, so the poll results seem really wrong.
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