Soldier moving to Stillwater with family need info on area (Tulsa: apartment complex, rentals)

joe_trin · 10-11-2011, 07:00 AM

We are currently in NY, and have never been to Stillwater. I will be working at OSU as an ROTC instructor and we are in need of some advice.

1. where is a good place to live? we are looking to rent as we will only be there 2-3 years. any realtors we should contact? looking to move in Jan 2012.

2. schools, how are the schools there as i have a 9 and a 15 yr old?

3. weather, are there tornadoes in stillwater? how about snow, my daughter loves snow.

4. any other helpful info, please send our way.

debbie at bouontiful · 10-11-2011, 08:08 AM

I am sure someone else will respond (that lives in Stillwater) but since my older daughter lives in Stillwater, I do know a little bit about it. Plus I want to keep it on the top of the questions for you.

First you shouldn't have trouble finding a rental being that there are a lot because of OSU. Your problem is that rentals are high and that I know because while my children were in school at OSU I paid the rent. Another problem with rentals were they seemed run down because of the college students. I think I paid (6 years ago) 350 plus ultilities for a run down one bedroom. Now, after both my daughters graduated and married, they both moved into a very nice apartment building on the south end of town. I believe they paid 700 for a 2 bedroom plus ultilities and I did like the building. Not sure was a 3 bedroom would be in which you probably need. Both of daughters and their husbands' lived in the same apartment building.

One has since move to OKCity but the my older daughter and her husband LOVE STILLWATER. There is so much to do there. My daughter and her children are in the library all the time, with tons of stuff for the children. Not to mention OSU has a lot of stuff going on too. My husband and I go to things on campus quite often.

Stillwater is the only town I've seen in OK that has everything one would want without having to go to Tulsa or OKC. Restaurants, outdoor activities and malls. I live about 2 and 1/2 hours east and in this area you have to drive 30 minutes to a town called McAlester which has a walmart and that is it.
You'll like to even love Stillwater.

P.S. Yes there are tornadoes and I too am quite scare of them. For some odd reason OK thinks "safe closets" are the answer to tornadoes. I've been arguing with hubby for 13 years in getting a cellar. My daughter put a cellar in and has used it more than once. When they get a scare, you neighbors are all running to her house.

joe_trin · 10-12-2011, 05:07 AM

I appreciate the info, and we are looking forward to the move and change of scenery. We are not looking to live in a rundown area, lol. My wife will try to go down early to pre-screen some houses for us and find some areas. Our kids are excited as well, gives them an opportunity to see another part of the U.S., other than NY. lol.

debbie at bouontiful · 10-12-2011, 05:50 AM

There are people on this forum that live in Stillwater. I keep answering to get it at the top in posts. My daughter lives in a very nice area. If no one answers, I can ask her in what areas to look in and she has told me that she lives in the best school district. Now, one knows that I do not know but I can get the sides of Stillwater that is best.

StillwaterTownie · 10-12-2011, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe_trin

I appreciate the info, and we are looking forward to the move and change of scenery. We are not looking to live in a rundown area, lol. My wife will try to go down early to pre-screen some houses for us and find some areas. Our kids are excited as well, gives them an opportunity to see another part of the U.S., other than NY. lol.

Stillwater is fortunate to have it's own craigslist. Have you gone there? I did and saw an attractive 3 bedroom for $700 a month.

The north, northeast, and southwest parts of town are good places to look. There's no real awful rundown areas but the southeast side is the not so good side. Also the neighborhoods that border OSU aren't so nice. If you choose an apartment complex avoid, 40 North. It seems to attract troublesome people.

Your 15 year old will love the high school. So much has been added on to it in recent years, new gym, auditorium and stadium, that it has taken two hours for the principal to give tours of the school for high school reunions.

Stillwater hasn't had a major hit from a tornado since 1990. Since then there has been at least several close calls, so it's best to be safe at home in a small room during a tornado warning, not driving the streets, and praying or hoping it won't be worse than another one of those close calls.

Some winters are unforgettable for snow, for instance, the Great Christmas Eve Blizzard of 2009. So for a very rare treat, it was a white Christmas that year. But typically it may only snow a few inches at a time a few times during winter. A bigger nuisance are the ice storms, but Stillwater has only had one bad one since 2000.

debbie at bouontiful · 10-12-2011, 02:16 PM

I knew StillwaterTownie would find you. She is right when I said rundown, I meant near OSU. I personally really like that town. It doesn't take you long to get out into the country and the new garden areas of OSU are really neat. You can't go wrong with that town. You got a lucky assignment.

eddie gein · 10-13-2011, 07:11 AM

Stillwater Townie knows his stuff on Stillwater. I would vote for the southeast part of town/country club area. However, if you want a really nice town with a smaller school, you might want to look at Perkins, Ok.
which is just south of Stillwater.

Regardless, Stillwater will be a wonderful community for you to spend a few years, and the ROTC program up there seems to be strong.
And I say this being a die hard Oklahoma Sooner fan and alum.

debbie at bouontiful · 10-13-2011, 12:08 PM

My daughter just sold a home in Perkins. I like that town. Safe town plus a nice high school. It is a town that you will know exactly what your children are up to and who their hanging out with. Plus I believe rent might be cheaper. It shouldn't be more than a 20 minute drive for you to OSU either. My daughter that sold her home there preferred Perkins to Stillwater but you have to do all you shopping for groceriesstill in Stillwater. It has a small store for quickie stuff but wouldn't want to do a whole grocery shopping in it. Great park in town.

joe_trin · 10-13-2011, 03:33 PM

Thank you all so much, I will get with the wife and start looking at Perkins, OK tonight. We are excited and consider it a blessing to be coming there as well, will be a good change from here for us and the kids. I really do appreciate all of your replies, I already feel alot better about going. I dont mind the snow or ice storms, we had a bad ice storm here in 98, and the snow here gets out of control, lol.

Wyoming-dreamcometrue · 10-14-2011, 12:35 AM

Stillwater is a GREAT place to live. We just moved from Edmond...its not that far from stillwater, to Wyoming, and truth be told, we want to go back!!! Housing there is so much easier to find. Even Craigslist has tons of postings there as opposed to Wyoming.

We always wanted to move to stillwater due to the fact that they get more snow as they are more northern than edmond. And it's just a dang good town!! Friendly ppl there

And not slummish. Hope you like the color Orange tho ... lol.

Honestly, if I were you...I'd be eager to make the move. It's beautiful country there. Great ppl. EXCELLENT college!! They push out the BEST Veterinarians nationwide. Nice and green too

And the Home of the popular "ESKIMO JOES". Kids will love that shop!

Good luck

if you need more info, OSU college is wonderful on providing newcomers info. It also has a couple smaller towns nearby which would be great if you were looking for living on the outskirts, on a bit of land. Small commutes.