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Oklahoma

Moderate tax burden · COL index 87

Wins 3 categories

VS

Arkansas

Moderate tax burden · COL index 85

Wins 9 categories

Oklahoma
Arkansas

Taxes

4.75%
Income Tax (top rate)
3.9%
0.85%/yr
Property Tax Rate
0.6%/yr
8.97%
Sales Tax (avg)
9.46%
Yes
Social Security Tax
Yes
Yes
Estate Tax
Yes
As income
Capital Gains Tax
As income

Housing & Cost of Living

87
COL Index (100=avg)
85
$215K
Median Home Price
$195K
$1,000/mo
Median Rent (2BR/mo)
$970/mo
$5K/yr
Home Insurance (avg/yr)
$3K/yr

Crime & Safety

449
Violent Crime / 100K
619
2,840
Property Crime / 100K
2,469

Healthcare

#50 of 50
Healthcare Quality Rank
#44 of 50
73.6 yrs
Life Expectancy
73.8 yrs
14.3%
Uninsured Rate
9.4%
Yes
Medicaid Expansion
Yes

Education

#43 of 50
K-12 Quality Rank
#42 of 50
Yes
School Choice / Vouchers
Yes

Childcare

$900/mo
Avg Infant Care / mo
$820/mo

Utilities & Daily Costs

$105/mo
Avg Energy Bill / mo
$130/mo
$420/mo
Avg Groceries / mo
$390/mo
#41 of 50
Road Quality Rank
#22 of 50

Social Policy

F
Gun Laws Grade
F
R+33.0
2024 Presidential Margin
R+28.0

Category wins

3

Oklahoma

9

Arkansas

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People Also Ask

Is it better to live in Arkansas or Oklahoma?

The key differentiators: Arkansas's top income tax rate (3.9%) is lower than Oklahoma's (4.75%), Arkansas fully exempts military retirement pay while Oklahoma only partially exempts it, and Arkansas eliminated its state grocery sales tax in 2023 while Oklahoma still taxes groceries.

What is the downfall of living in Arkansas?

Is Oklahoma mostly Democrat or Republican?

Oklahoma initially was strongly Democratic, with Democratic candidates winning the state's electoral votes 9 out of 11 times between 1908-1948, but it has come to be considered a safely red state. Republicans have won every single county in Oklahoma since the 2004 presidential election.

Are houses cheaper in Oklahoma or Arkansas?

Oklahoma's statewide median home price runs approximately $190,000–$210,000 — nearly identical to Arkansas's $185,000–$205,000. Oklahoma City metro prices run $210,000–$260,000; Tulsa metro runs $190,000–$240,000; Lawton (near Fort Sill) runs $130,000–$185,000; Enid (near Vance AFB) runs $115,000–$160,000.

Full Oklahoma Profile →Full Arkansas Profile →

Your Priorities

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Quick Profiles

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Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care

State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care

Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care

Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care

Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care

Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked