Life in OKC

   Take a closer look at Oklahoma City and see why more and more people are building futures in this young city full of promise. Over the past decade, Oklahoma City has seen unprecedented growth, and the end is nowhere in sight. Fresh off the largest urban makeover in national history with more than $3 billion invested in new development, Oklahoma City has spruced up, renovated and entered the 21st Century with what has become signature gusto.

   You’ll see our new-found adrenaline reflected in a gleaming downtown; a robust economy; a sparkling, reclaimed river and a neon-lit canal flowing through Bricktown – one of the fastest growing entertainment districts in the Southwest. Most importantly, you’ll find it reflected in the faces of the people who make their homes, lives and livings here.
 

   Today, downtown Oklahoma City is a vibrant district, with more than $3 billion in public and private investments and more on the horizon. The vitality is evident in Bricktown, the 30-block entertainment district east of downtown, where property values have increased 231% since 2004.

   You can also see it along the Oklahoma River, where the sleek, privately funded $3.5 million Chesapeake Boathouse is a striking landmark and fast becoming a national and international destination for rowers and paddlers alike.

The Arts in OKC

   The spectacular Oklahoma City Museum of Art anchors the city’s up-and-coming Arts District. In addition to an amazing permanent collection and special exhibitions, the museum holds the world’s largest, most comprehensive exhibit by glass sculptor Dale Chihuly. Now an Oklahoma City icon, a three-story atrium welcomes museum visitors with a 55-foot Chihuly glass tower. With 15 galleries, the museum regularly hosts world-class traveling exhibitions, and offers the most comprehensive film and video program in the region, with weekly screenings of independent, foreign and classic films.

   In the Civic Center Music Hall in downtown Oklahoma City, you can experience the performing arts in the splendor of the recently renovated Art Deco concert hall. The hall features a multi-tiered auditorium with three balconies, 2,500 private suites, a hydraulic orchestra pit and virtually perfect acoustics. The Civic Center is home to the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra, Ballet Oklahoma, Canterbury Chorale Society, BLAC, Inc., and Lyric Theatre. It also plays host to touring Broadway musicals and an annual series of national artists.

   A rite of spring each April in Oklahoma City is the ever-popular Festival of the Arts downtown. With more than 150 local and nationally known artisans, enticing taste treats along International Food Row and tunes from a mixture of musical genres, Festival of the Arts is sure to satisfy your soul.

  Living in OKC

   No wonder Places Rated Almanac cited Oklahoma City as one of the “Best Places To Live In North America.” It’s affordable. It’s desirable. It’s a vibrant, active city just reaching its stride. Here, you can realize your potential and still have a balanced life full of fun, fulfilling work, creativity and relaxation.

   One key aspect that makes Oklahoma City such a uniquely livable region is its affordability. Unlike many metropolitan areas today, you can afford to live in a quality home, while still enjoying the area’s arts and entertainment, as well as traveling and engaging in other recreational interests.

   In fact, the cost of living in Oklahoma City consistently ranks around 10 percent below the national average. According to the most recent cost of living survey conducted by the Council for Community and Economic Research(C2ER), Oklahoma City remains one of the most affordable major metropolitan areas in which to live.

   Nowhere does your budget see the advantages of Oklahoma City more than in the housing column – without compromising on quality. Low housing costs are the principal reason Oklahoma City’s cost of living remains relatively low.