This country’s age of coastal supremacy is over, thanks to the emergence of fun areas like Nashville, Austin, and Atlanta. These cities offer the excitement of living in New York City or Los Angeles at a fraction of the cost, so many young people are quickly flocking to them and starting their lives.
However, there are plenty more places out there waiting to explode in popularity. As with any move to a less-known area, there are advantages and drawbacks. Here are the pros and cons of moving to Oklahoma City.
Pro: Low Cost of Living
Oklahoma City is a quickly emerging city with fun nightlife and plenty of economic possibilities. It’s the kind of metropolitan area where you can comfortably live and work without needing to commute from a more affordable suburb. Individuals can rent an amenities-rich apartment near the downtown and go out at night with an income of just over $40,000 a year.
As your wealth builds, you can quickly purchase a home since the houses there cost nearly $100,000 less than the national average! Plus, all aspects of life are significantly lower, including gas, food, utilities, and entertainment.
Con: Extreme Weather
The summers in Oklahoma City are sweltering, and winter nights are typically chilly. Altogether, you have a very seasonal region. Additionally, there’s extreme weather that many residents deal with every year.
Specifically, the tornado season in May causes millions of dollars in damage throughout the entire state. As a homeowner, there’s always a risk of property damage due to wild twisters. Plus, the stirred-up dust can wreak havoc on your HVAC system, driving up monthly utility bills. Letting that dust settle is one of the biggest mistakes you can make when maintaining your air ducts in Oklahoma.
Pro: Low Population
For some individuals, a lower population is a con. However, the absence of overcrowding in Oklahoma City allows for a more leisurely lifestyle. Residents remark that there is seldom traffic, making commuting around the city a breeze. Having fewer people also means better financial opportunities since the region is just now blooming.
There’s always a supply of rentable places of business that are highly affordable and in prime locations. Jobs are always eager to hire hardworking young people, causing Oklahoma City to have the third-lowest unemployment rate in the country! You can experience many financial rewards in a burgeoning city without losing that sense of rural, western living.
Con: There Are Comparable Cities Elsewhere
However, Oklahoma City is about five years away from competing with the rise of Austin or Nashville. In the meantime, other options around this country offer similar living experiences and far fewer disadvantages.
Desert dwellers find that Phoenix is relatively the same in living costs with a larger metropolitan area for exploring. Different regions of New Mexico are as affordable and offer more exciting environments and landscapes to look at every day. Even slightly more expensive cities, like Portland, draw more young people there every year. Ultimately, moving to Oklahoma City is an investment in what the city could become down the line.
There will always be New York City, Los Angeles, or Chicago, and these are great places to pursue exciting careers or visit for a fun vacation. However, when it comes to finding the perfect area to call home, underrated cities demand more consideration from young people. Therefore, weigh the pros and cons of moving to Oklahoma City.