Oklahoma City Accolades

 

“The world has taken notice of Oklahoma City’s renaissance. This page is regularly updated with the latest websites and publications ranking Oklahoma City on their list of the best and brightest.” Source stories are courtesy of the Greater OKC Chamber.

Oklahoma City among top 10 best summer travel destinations
May 16, 2018 – WalletHub
Thanks to factors like OKC’s many unique attractions, safety, and affordability, WalletHub ranked Oklahoma City to be the 8th overall best summer travel destination.

Oklahoma City among top 10 best cities for building your savings
May 10, 2018 – Bankrate
Based on factors such as income versus the cost of necessary living expenses like groceries and mortgage payments, Bankrate found that OKC is the 10th best city for building a savings fund in.

Oklahoma City comes in at #1 on WalletHub‘s “2018 Best Large Cities to Start a Business” list
April 30, 2018 – WalletHub
Looking at “Business Environment,” “Access to Resources” and “Business Costs” metrics with various inputs in each category (19 different variables were used in all), WalletHub found that OKC ranked first among the largest U.S. cities in which to start a business.

Millennials should look to OKC to buy their next home 
March 22, 2018 – GoBankingRates
When it comes to home ownership for millennials, Oklahoma City ranks near the top according to GoBankingRates. The website ranked OKC No. 7 on its “Best Cities for Aspiring Millennial Homeowners” list due to the metro’s home values and millennial home ownership levels.

Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s reaffirm Oklahoma City’s AAA bond rating
March 13, 2018 – Time / MONEY
As a result of continued sound fiscal management, for the eighth consecutive year, Standard & Poor’s andMoody’s have given the City of Oklahoma City the highest bond rating possible. The strong ratings allow the City to sell bonds at lower interest rates. The savings allow the City to spend more on bond projects like streets, bridges, sidewalks, trails and park improvements.

OKC makes best vacation destination list
March 6, 2018 – Southern Living
National magazine Southern Living ranked Oklahoma City on its “15 Incredible Solo Vacations to Take in the South” list. The ranking further shows off OKC’s impressive quality of life and highlighted the metro’s impressive culinary offerings.

Time / MONEY: Oklahoma City among “The 20 Best Places To Go in 2018”
March 6, 2018 – Time / MONEY
Due to our ability to consistently deliver “quality, cost, and value” on a variety of fronts, OKC’s once again in good company. MONEY used “more than 32,000 data points in total from dozens of sources, covering cost, year-over-year trends, and customer satisfaction” as well as Lonely Planet travel data to compile and round out their list.

OKC ranks among best cities to start a new small business
February 27, 2018 – LendingTree
Oklahoma City ranked in the top 10 for LendingTree’s “Best Cities for New Small Business” list. The study looked at average annual revenue and profitability.

CNBC: OKC top city for low cost of living / high wage combo
February 27, 2018 – CNBC / GOBankingRates
GOBankingRates looked at average annual income and average monthly living expenses to find the city where wages most outpaced expenses. Oklahoma City landed in the number one spot.

Oklahoma ranks No. 2 in wind power capacity
Januarty 31, 2018 – American Wind Energy Association
According to a recent report by the American Wind Energy Association, Oklahoma has huge potential in wind energy. The data says Oklahoma ranks behind only Texas in installed wind power capacity.

New grads should take notice of OKC
January 1, 2018 – OnlineDegrees.com
According to the website OnlineDegrees.com new grads should take a hard look at OKC as the metro ranked No. 11 in its “Best Big Cities for New Grads” rankings. The ranking is based on factors such as average rent, cost of living and nightlife.

OKC ranks high as veteran-friendly place to live
November 6, 2017 – WalletHub
Among the 100 largest cities in the U.S., WalletHub ranked OKC as the 13th best place to live for military veterans based on 17 key indicators.

OKC one of the hottest hipster markets in America 
October 5, 2017 – Yelp
According to Yelp, OKC’s 73103 zip code comes in as the 12th hottest hipster market in America where hipster businesses are thriving and homes are selling quickly.

OKC ranks as a top city to launch a small business 
October 2, 2017 – Inc.
The OKC business environment certainly impresses as Inc. recently ranked OKC as a top six city to start a small business.

Best Cities for Jobs? You Bet OKC Made the List 
September 29, 2017 – Glassdoor
Using factors such as job satisfaction, salaries and home values, the website Glassdoor looked to find the best U.S. metros for jobs. Oklahoma City came in No. 15 on the list, scoring especially high in job satisfaction.

OKC a top metro for millennials 
September 8, 2017 – Apartment List
A recent study by Apartment List placed OKC as the #8 best city in the U.S. for milliennials based on jobs, affordability and livability.

OKC ranks in top ten for most popular U.S. cities to live
June 6, 2017 – Business Insider
It’s a good time to be in OKC. New data Business Insider obtained from realtor.com shows OKC coming in at No. 8 on their list of most popular cities everyone wants to live right now. The list is based on factors such as the migration ratio and growth rate.

OKC in top ten among cheapest U.S. cities to live
May 31, 2017 – Kiplinger
According to Kiplinger, OKC housing costs run 28.8% below the national average, earning it the No. 10 spot on their list of cheapest U.S. cities to live.

OKC top city for saving money
May 26, 2017 – MarketWatch
From an analysis of the 60 largest U.S. cities, MarketWatch listed Oklahoma City at No. 3 when it comes to saving money. The research found that Oklahoma City is one of the most affordable cities to live in the U.S., taking into account income, cost of living and unemployment.

OKC ranks high on list of most diversified economies
May 4, 2017 – WalletHub
Among the 60 largest cities in the U.S., WalletHub ranked OKC as having the 7th most diversified economy in the country using metrics based on industry diversity, occupational diversity and worker-class diversity.

OKC best place to start a business in 2017
May 3, 2017 – WalletHub
Looking at the top 150 cities in the U.S., WalletHub examined a variety of metrics including financing, growth rates, business environment/affordability and more and found that Oklahoma City ranked #1 as the best place to start a business.

Millennials are on the move to the OKC metro
May 3, 2017 – Travel+Leisure
Millennials are on the move. From an analysis of 50 metro areas in the U.S., OKC came in at No. 12 on Travel+Leisure’s list of top metro areas that millennials are moving to.

OKC ranks as a top city to be a millennial
April 26, 2017 – Trulia
OKC comes in at No. 5 in a study conducted by Trulia comparing the largest 100 metros in the U.S. to see where millennals were excelling in the areas of homeownership, education, employment and income.

OKC Gets High Marks for First-Time Homeowners
April 15, 2017 – SmartAsset
According to new research from SmartAsset few metros stack up to Oklahoma City when it comes to buying a home for the first time. OKC’s steady housing market and affordability garnered the metro No. 2 on the “Best Cities for First-Time Homebuyers” list.

Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s reaffirm Oklahoma City’s AAA bond rating
Mar. 15, 2017 – Moody’s / Standard & Poor’s
For the seventh year in a row, the City of Oklahoma City has earned the highest bond ratings possible from two of the nation’s most respected financial rating services. Strong financial policies and practices, high reserve levels and the City’s role as an economic center are three of the factors that led to Oklahoma City’s strong rating.

OKC #1 on “Most Romantic Cities” list
Feb. 6, 2017 – OpenTable
It’s fun to be in love in (and with) OKC! Doing some inventive data mining, OpenTable looked at percentage of restaurants labeled “romantic,” reservations for tables of two, and people who went out for Valentine’s Day in 2016 to generate their rankings.

Oklahoma City at #7 on “Best Cities to Raise a Family” ranking
Feb. 2, 2017 – SmartAsset
SmartAsset examined eight factors, including high school graduation rates, percentage of people below the poverty line, unemployment rate, child care costs, housing costs and more and found what locals already know: OKC is a great place to live and raise a family.

Demographia: OKC top-ten major market for housing affordability
Jan. 23, 2017 – Demographia
3rd Quarter 2016 housing and income data showed that OKC is a top-ten city for housing affordability among big cities, according to urban policy consutancy Demographia.

OKC in top ten among large cities for recession recovery
Jan. 11, 2017 – WalletHub
Looking at 505 cities and 18 key economic indicators, WalletHub found Oklahoma City came back stronger from the recession than cities like San Francisco, San Jose, Dallas, San Antonio and Houston, among others.

OKC is One of the Top Metros for Wage Growth
Dec. 7, 2016 – Forbes
Forbes recently looked at a study by Headlight Data to find which large metros had the fastest growing wages over the past decade. They found that the Oklahoma City metro had a 5.3-percent median wage growth rate which ranks No. 8 in the country.

Oklahoma Ranks No. 1 for Oil & Gas Investment Worldwide
Dec. 7, 2016 – Fraser Institute
In their annual look at the top places for oil and gas investment, the Fraser Institute ranked Oklahoma the “Most Attractive Jurisdictions for Petroleum and Development Investment” in the world. It is the first time Oklahoma has beaten out Texas for that honor.

What are the Best Cities for Workforce? OKC Earns High Marks 
Nov. 23, 2016 – Global Trade
In Global Trade’s annual look at the top cities for global trade, Oklahoma City scored high marks for work force. “Young, smart professionals have been flocking to the city – it’s grown by more than 125,000 people since 2000 – attracted by a low cost of living, low housing costs and healthy job growth,” said the publication.

OKC is Tops Among Tourists 
Oct. 19, 2016 – USA Today
USA Today set out to find what U.S. cities leave tourists the most satisfied and Oklahoma City got high marks. The metro made the top 25, finishing No. 4 among Southwest cities, in the survey.

OKC Among the Top Cities Rebounding from the Great Recession 
Aug 16, 2016 – CNBC
CNBC listed Oklahoma City at No. 5 on its “7 Cities where Incomes have Rebounded the Most since the Great Recession” list. The metro has seen a personal income growth rate of 13.4 percent since 2009.

Business Facilities: OKC Ranks No. 1 for Quality of Life 
Aug 3, 2016 – Business Facilities 
Business Facilities recently released its 12th annual rankings report and it was full of good news for Oklahoma City. Greater Oklahoma City took the top spot in quality of life. “By just about any benchmark you can raise in evaluating the quality of life in a location, OKC is a frontrunner,” said the publication.

OKC Has Some of the Lowest Business Cost in the U.S.
Aug 3, 2016 – Business Facilities 
Oklahoma City was once again recognized for its low business cost as Business Facilities ranked the metro No. 8 on its annual “Lowest Cost of Business” list.

Your Dollar Goes Further in OKC 
Aug 3, 2016 – Business Facilities 
We’ve always claimed your dollar simply stretches further in Oklahoma City but don’t take our word for it.Business Facilities listed Oklahoma City at No. 7 on its recent “Best Cost of Living” ranking.

Oklahoma City Ranked as One of the Best Cities for 20-Somethings
June 8, 2016 – Angie’s List
Move.org listed Oklahoma City as the ninth best city to live in while in your 20s. The metro was highly recommended when looking at median gross rent, unemployment rates, short commutes and cost of living.

The Housing Market in OKC gives you more Bang for your Buck
May 23, 2016 – Angie’s List
Website Angie’s List ranked Oklahoma City No. 5 among the least expensive major metros to own a home. The website found that OKC has one of the lowest monthly tax rates, home maintenance costs and the lowest percentage of income spent on housing costs in the country.

OKC Makes the Honor Roll when it Comes to College Grads
May 18, 2016 – Zumper
Website Zumper recently gave Oklahoma City an A+ on its “Best Cities for New College Graduates” list. The site ranked OKC No. 10 and said “Oklahoma City’s bustling economy is a great place to start a career.”

Best Cities for Jobs? You know OKC Makes the List
May 18, 2016 – Glassdoor
Website Glassdoor released their 2016 list of “Best Cities for Jobs” and Oklahoma City came in at No. 10. The list was based on factors such as hiring opportunity, cost of living and job satisfaction.

OKC Ranked in Top 10 for Best Cities to Start a Career 
May 9, 2016 – WalletHub
Oklahoma City ranked as the seventh best city to start a career, according to a recent study conducted byWalletHub. 150 of the most populated U.S. cities were compared using two key dimensions, Professional Opportunities and Quality of Life.

OKC Named Most Affordable Metro for Young Adults
May 6, 2016 – CareerTrends
CareerTrends took data from the Economic Policy Institute’s 2015 Family Budget Calculator to find the 32 large metros (more than 1 million population) that were most affordable for young adults. With an estimated budget need 18% below the national average, OKC came out on top of the analysis.

OKC Ranks No. 3 for Best Large Cities to Start a Business 
May 3, 2016 – WalletHub
WalletHub recently conducted a study to find the top cities to start a business, ranking OKC as No. 3. The study focused on 150 of the most populated cities and used 16 key metrics such as, office-space affordability and educational attainment of the local labor force, to rank each city.

Two OKC-area Graduate Entrepreneurship Programs in National Top 25
May 1, 2016 – The Princeton Review (link requires free account registration to view)
Oklahoma City is well-represented on The Princeton Review’s rankings of the Top 25 Graduate School programs for Entrepreneurship, with the University of Oklahoma’s Price College of Business clocking in at #12 and Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business at #23.

Myriad Botanical Gardens Ranks Among Nation’s Best 
April 20, 2016 – USA Today
Oklahoma City’s Myriad Botanical Gardens was recently ranked as one of the top 10 best city parks in the U.S. by USA Today. The honor was picked by a panel of experts and online voting.

OKC is the No. 1 Place in America for First-Time Homebuyers
March 15, 2016 – SmartAssest
SmartAssest crunched the numbers and found that Oklahoma City was the top spot in the country for first-time homebuyers. The website pointed to Oklahoma City’s real estate value and stability of the market as contributing factors.

New Study: OKC Ranks No. 1 for Women Entrepreneurs
March 10, 2016 – Merchant Cash USA
Using 2015 census data Merchant Cash USA ranked Oklahoma City the No. 1 city in the United States for female entrepreneurs. “Oklahoma City is a mecca for young professionals and entrepreneurs who can excel at various industries in an area which is extremely friendly to the small business owner,” Merchant Cash USA CCO Darrin Landau said.

OKC Ranks No. 8 in Millennial Home Ownership
March 1, 2016 – SmartAsset
According to a new study by SmartAsset Oklahoma City ranks no. 8 for Millennial home ownership. According to the article, “(Oklahoma City) is one of the few U.S. cities in which millennials are doing better financially than prior generations.”

You Get More Apartment for Your Buck in OKC
February 29, 2016 – Forbes
A new study found that Oklahoma City ranks No. 1 in the country for most apartment space for your money. According to an article in Forbes, OKC is the only metro in the U.S. where average rent per square foot is under $1.00.

Women-Owned Business are Doing Great in OKC
February 25, 2016 – WalletHub
WalletHub set out to find which major metros were the friendless towards women-owned business and ranked Oklahoma City No. 11 in the U.S. The website used 10 key metrics to compile their rankings. OKC scored its top mark by coming in at No. 5 for “women entrepreneurship”.

OKC Earns Highest Bond Rating
February 09, 2016 – Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s
Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s recently reaffirmed Oklahoma City’s AAA bond rating for the sixth year in a row. OKC is part of an elite group of major U.S. metros with the highest rating.

USA Today: OKC a Must-Visit Destination in 2016
December 31, 2015 – USA Today
USA Today recently released a list of “14 Places in America You Have to Visit in 2016” and Oklahoma City made the list along the likes of San Diego, Hawaii, Las Vegas and more. The article highlighted the Oklahoma Boathouse District among other attractions.

OKC Ranks No. 2 for Least Housing-Poor Areas
December 13, 2015 – Credit.com
Using data from the 2014 American Community Survey, Credit.com found that Oklahoma City ranked No. 2 in the nation for “Least Housing-Poor Areas”. What does that mean? In OKC, people spend just 28.4 percent of their annual income on housing. That makes the metro one of the most affordable places to live in America.

New Home Construction Continues to Be Strong in OKC
December 12, 2015 – New Geography
New Geography recently conducted a study on home construction and found that Oklahoma City ranked No. 8 nationally for new home construction. Dating back to 2010, new construction makes up about 5.5 percent of the metro’s housing base.

OKC is Great for Renters and Owners
November 30, 2015 – Avalanche Consulting
Looking at recent survey data, Avalanche Consulting found that Oklahoma City ranked as the ninth “Most Affordable Metro for Renters and Owners”. On average owners and renters pay around 28 percent of their income towards housing in OKC.

OKC Continues to Be Top Community for Veterans
November 5, 2015 – USAA
Oklahoma City has a strong history of supporting the military and a recent study by USAA confirmed it. The metro was ranked No. 1 for careers for people with military skill sets and No. 9 in entrepreneurship for military veterans.

Americans are “Thronging To” OKC
November 4, 2015 – New Geography
According to a new study by New Geography, Oklahoma City ranks in the top 10 for “annual rate of increase from migration” among large metros. Oklahoma City ranked No. 9 with an annual increase of 0.7 percent since 2010.

Economic Outlook Continues to Look Great for OKC
November 2, 2015 – Thumbtack
Small businesses in Oklahoma City have a higher economic outlook than anywhere else in the country according to a recent survey by Thumbtack. Jacksonville, Riverside, Charleston and Houston rounded out the top 5 respectively.

Entrepreneur: OKC is the No. 1 City Worth Moving If You Want to Launch a Business
September 11, 2015 – Entrepreneur
“Combine a strong small-business-lending environment and a lower cost of living, and you have a surprising startup haven.” That is how Entrepreneur described Oklahoma City when the ranked the metro No. 1 on its “25 Cities Worth Moving to If You Want to Launch a Business” list.

Oklahoma Ranked in Top 10 in Construction Value
September 11, 2015 – NAIOP
The construction industry continues to thrive in Oklahoma as NAIOP ranked the Sooner State No. 10 in construction value. Oklahoma also ranked No. 4 in industrial construction value.

OKC is an Ideal Summer Travel Destination
August 14, 2015 – WalletHub
Looking for a fun, family summer getaway? According to WalletHub, OKC is the No. 7 “Best City for Summer Travel” this year. The website ranked the biggest 80 metros in the country over a variety of factors like cost, weather and attractions.

CBRE Ranks OKC No. 1 Best City for Small Tech Market Growth
August 13, 2015 – CBRE
Oklahoma City saw a small tech talent market growth rate of 38.9 percent between 2010 and 2013 according to a new report from CBRE. That represents the highest growth rate in the country over the period. The same report shows OKC ranked No. 4 in millennial growth over the same period.

Oklahoma Tops the Pack in Wind Power
August 13, 2015 – U.S. Department of Energy
Data from a recently released report on wind energy from the U.S. Department of Energy shows that Oklahoma ranked No. 2 in installed wind power capacity last year. Oklahoma also ranked No. 4 for cumulative installed capacity.

Oklahomans Have More Purchasing Power
August 7, 2015 – Tax Foundation
Using Real Personal State Income data, the Tax Foundation found that Oklahoma ranks No. 9 in the U.S. for purchasing power. The state’s purchasing power of $111.23 is more $11 more than the national average.

OKC Continues to get High Marks for Housing Market
August 7, 2015 – WalletHub
In a study of the 25 largest metros, WalletHub ranked OKC No. 2 on its “Healthiest Housing Market” list. Oklahoma City ranked especially high in lowest percentage of mortgages that are underwater.

STEM Professionals Should Look Towards OKC
August 7, 2015 – WalletHub
Website WalletHub studied the 100 biggest U.S. metros across key metrics to find the best job markets for STEM professionals. High STEM employment growth in the metro helped OKC ranks as the No. 7 best metro for STEM professionals

Manufacturing Remains Strong in OKC
July 28, 2015 – New Geography
Oklahoma City continues to have one of the strongest manufacturing bases in the U.S. according to a new report from New Geography. Looking at a range of data points, the publication ranked OKC No. 6 on its “Best Large City for Manufacturing Jobs” list. The metro was the highest ranked city west of the Mississippi.

The Oklahoma Economy is Doing A-OK
July 17, 2015 – Mercatus Center
The Oklahoma economy continues to perform above the national average but don’t take our word for it. Recently the Mercatus Center ranked Oklahoma No. 9 in its state fiscal health study. The ranking is based on both short and long-term fiscal solvency.

Oklahoma City Ranks High for Recession Recovery
July 17, 2015 – Glassdoor
According to a recent report from Glassdor, Oklahoma City ranks No. 10 nationally for recession recovery. The publication used employment growth numbers, unemployment rate and other data from the 327 U.S. metros for their ranking.

Looking to Start a Career? Check out OKC
July 7, 2015 – Wallet Hub
Are you looking to start a career? According to Wallet Hub, Oklahoma City should be high on your list. The publication ranked OKC No. 17 on its “Best City to Start a Career” list.

Fortune: OKC One of the Best Places to Find a Job
June 15, 2015 – Fortune
According to Fortune magazine Oklahoma City ranks as the No. 8 best city to find a job in this year. The study used census data and unemployment rate for their ranking.

Housing Market Continues to Be Strong in Oklahoma
June 1, 2015 – Federal Housing Finance Agency
The State of Oklahoma continues to see a strong, steady housing market according to new numbers released by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The report ranked Oklahoma No. 15 in terms of home price appreciation nationally.

Oklahoma Produces more Natural Gas Than Most Countries
May 29, 2015 – American Petroleum Institute
According to a recent report from the America Petroleum Institute, Oklahoma is one of the top producers of natural gas in the world. In fact, if Oklahoma was a country it would rank 18th in the world for dry natural gas production.

Short Commutes are the Norm in OKC
May 28, 2015 – University of Michigan
If you don’t want to spend your life stuck in traffic than OKC is the perfect large city for you. A recent study of the 30 largest metros in the U.S. by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute found OKC has the shortest average commute time. The average commute in OKC is just 20.7 minutes.

Best City for Jobs? Of Course OKC Ranks High
May 26, 2015 – Glassdoor
With continued strong economic growth it would be a surprise if OKC didn’t rank high on any Best Cities for Jobs ranking. Recently, Glassdoor ranked the metro No. 3 on its “Best Cities for Jobs” ranking.

OKC Ranks as One of America’s Most Friendly Cities
May 26, 2015 – Travel and Leisure
It is all smile in OKC as Travel and Leisure ranked OKC the No. 5 Friendliest City in the U.S. They also ranked the metro the least snobby and rude.

OKC One of the Best Place to Work for a Small Business
May 13, 2015 – WalletHub
According to online pub WalletHub Oklahoma City ranks as one of the top 5 places to work for a small business in America. They looked at a multitude of factors such as median income, population growth and small business environment among the 100 most populated metros in the U.S.

Downtown Employment Growth One of the Top in the Nation
April 20, 2015 – The City Observatory
Business is booming in Downtown Oklahoma City and the numbers back that up according to The City Observatory. Looking at census data, they found OKC’s downtown had the 3rd-highest rate of employment growth out of the 41 largest metros in the U.S. That national rate of growth was .5 percent while OKC saw a growth rate of 2.2 percent.

Best Cities for Millennials? Few Rank Higher than OKC
April 10, 2015 – USA Today
Using a study done by OnlineColleges.com, USA Today recently released their “15 Best U.S. Cities for Millennial College Students” list and Oklahoma City fared extremely well. Strong economic factors combined with low in-state tuition propelled the metro to No. 3 on the list.

OKC Continues to Get High Marks for Diversified Economy
April 1, 2015 – Wallet Hub
Wallet Hub recently combed through census data of the 350 largest metros in the country to find the most diversified economy. Oklahoma City came in at No. 11 in their rankings when combining industry, occupational and worker-class diversity.

OKC Housing Market Continues to Rank High for Affordability
March 23, 2015 – Citylab
Citylab looked at how many years’ worth of income it would take, on average, to buy a home in metros across the county. Unsurprisingly, OKC fared well in the experiment ranking No. 4 for singles and No. 9 for families. The publication found it would take just 2.6 years of income for a family to buy a home in Oklahoma City.

Greater Oklahoma City Has One of the Lowest Level of Income Inequality in the Nation
March 23, 2015 – Brookings
Looking at census data Brookings found that Oklahoma City has the fourth-lowest level of income inequality among major metros in the U.S. The study looked at data between 2012 and 2013.

Experts rank OKC as One of the Best Cities to Move to in 2015
March 23, 2015 – Simple Moving Labor
Looking to move? Simple Moving Labor has ranked Oklahoma City as the No. 4 “Best City to Move to in 2015”. OKC ranked high in part due to home affordability and the energy/aerospace sectors.

OKC Has One of the Strongest Growth Economies in U.S.
March 16, 2015 – Brookings
Brookings recently analyzed 300 of the largest metros in the world and found that Greater OKC ranks No. 7 in the U.S. for economic growth. They looked at factors such as GDP, employment and more to find that OKC’s GDP growth is actually 6 times higher than the national average for North American metros. OKC also ranked No. 66 worldwide.

Brookings: Oklahoma One of the States Diversifying the Fastest
March 11, 2015 – Brookings
According to a recent study from Brookings Oklahoma ranks No. 8 nationally for states who are diversifying quickly. Currently 45 percent of Oklahomans under the age of 19 are people of color.

OKC Housing Markets Ranks High Internationally
March 9, 2015 – Demographia
We all know OKC has one of the most affordable housing markets in the U.S. Did you also know it is one of the most affordable major metros in the world? A recent study by Demographia ranked OKC the No. 13 most affordable housing market among nine countries it looked at.

OU Ranked as One of Top Colleges in the Country
Feb. 12, 2015 – The Business Journals
The University of Oklahoma was recently ranked as the 57th best public college in the U.S. by The Business Journals. The publication looked at a total of 484 four-year colleges for its rankings.

OKC’s AAA Rating Reaffirmed
Feb. 5, 2015 – Standard & Poor’s/Moody
Oklahoma City recently had their AAA rating, the highest rating possible, reaffirmed by both Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s. This makes the fifth-straight year the city has received the AAA rating. The high rating allows OKC to sell bonds at a lower interest rate.

Forbes: OKC a Great City for Hispanics
Feb. 2, 2015 – Forbes
Forbes recently ranked the major U.S. cities for Hispanic economic opportunities. The Greater Oklahoma City metro placed high on this list due to factors such as home ownership rate, population growth and share of total self-employment.

Fastest Growing Cities? You Bet OKC Made that Forbes List
Jan. 29, 2015 – Forbes
With a population growth rate of 1.2 percent, Oklahoma City made Forbes’ “America’s Fastest-Growing Cities 2015” list. The publication predicts even greater growth for the region this year.

Stillwater and Norman Named Among Best College Cities
Jan. 13, 2015 – WalletHub
Two college towns in the Oklahoma City metro recently made WalletHub’s list of “Best College Cities and Towns in America” for 2014 list. Stillwater, home of Oklahoma State, came in at No. 8 with high rankings in affordability. The University of Oklahoma and Norman came in at No. 36 also scoring high in affordability.

OKC Once Again Scores High for Jobs Market
Jan. 13, 2015 – WalletHub
WalletHub recently looked at the 150 biggest cities in the U.S. to find its “Best Cities for Job Market for 2015” and unsurprisingly Oklahoma City made the top 10. This makes the second “Best Cities for Jobs” list the metro has made this week.

Best Cities for Job Seekers? OKC Makes the List
Jan. 13, 2015 – NerdWallet
If you are looking for a job few places rank higher than Oklahoma City according to NerdWallet. The website highlighted the metro’s low unemployment, low rent rates and the growth in our working-age population in its “Best Cities for Job Seekers in 2015” list.

Oklahoma Ranks Ninth Among Top Moving Destinations
Jan. 5, 2015 – United Van Lines
Oklahoma is a popular destination for movers according to the 2014 Annual National Movers Study released by United Van Lines. Oklahoma ranked No. 9 among destinations with more than 57 percent of movers being inbound.

OK has Been A-OK Since Recession
Dec. 23, 2014 – Bureau of Economic Analysis
When it comes to earnings growth, few states has fared as well as Oklahoma. Recently the Bureau of Economic Analysis looked at the data and found that the Sooner State was one of the top three states with the highest percentage earnings growth since 2009.

National Geographic Traveler Names Oklahoma City as a Best Trips 2015 Destination
Nov. 21, 2014 – National Geographic Traveler
National Geographic Traveler named Oklahoma City as a must-see destination for 2015. The list comprises of 30 locations worldwide and highlights Downtown OKC as well as the Asian District.

Oklahoma No. 1 Place for Oil-and-Gas Investing Worldwide
Nov. 20, 2014 – Fraser Institute
Oklahoma ranks No. 1 on the list of best places for ease of investment in oil and gas worldwide according to a recent survey from the Fraser Institute. In addition to the No.1 worldwide ranking among the 156 locations in Fraser’s “Global Petroleum Survey 2014,” Oklahoma was ranked as the No. 1 most attractive jurisdiction with medium-sized oil and gas reserves; the No. 1 most attractive for investment in petroleum exploration and development; and No. 1 for having the lowest barriers for investment, among others.

Forbes tabs Oklahoma as a Best State for Business
Nov. 13, 2014 – Forbes
Oklahoma made Forbes’ annual “Best States for Business” list. Oklahoma comes in 10th, which represents a move up in the rankings compared to the previous year. The publication highlighted Oklahoma’s low energy costs and business climate.

Oklahoma Ranks High for Business Climate
Nov. 4, 2014 – Site Selection
Site Selection set out to find the states with the best business climates this year and unsurprisingly Oklahoma ranked high, coming in at No. 11. A bulk of the data used in the ranking was from a survey conducted of site selectors who ranked states based upon their recent experiences of locating facilities there.

Kiplinger: OKC is No. 1 for Starting a Business
Oct. 30, 2014 – Kiplinger
Looking for the perfect place to start your next business? According to Kiplinger, look no further than Oklahoma City. The publication ranked the metro No. 1 on its “Best Cities for Starting a Business” list. OKC’s low cost of living and thriving small business community were just a couple of factors that helped it nab the top spot.

OKC Ranks No. 3 in Office Space Market Growth
Oct. 27, 2014 – Newmark Grubb Knight Frank/CoStar 
According to Newmark Grubb Knight Frank and CoStar OKC saw the third highest percentage growth in the office space market. The metro saw a 2.7-percent growth year-to-date ranking just behind Detroit and Las Vegas.

Few Big Cities More Affordable than OKC
Oct. 24, 2014 – Kiplinger
Affordability is crucial to business success today and according to Kiplinger you won’t find many big cities more affordable than Oklahoma City. The business magazine named the metro No. 9 on its “Most Affordable Big City in the U.S.” list due to low living costs and steady home values.

OKC Shows Strong GDP Growth
Oct. 3, 2014 – Bureau of Economic Analysis
According to new numbers from the Bureau of Economic Analysis the Oklahoma City MSA saw a 3.9 percent increase in GDP growth from 2011-2013. OKC is one of only 3 large metros in the country to post a gain of 3.5 percent or higher.

Oklahoma Ranks No. 1 in Durable Goods Manufacturing Growth
Sept. 30, 2014 – Bureau of Economic Analysis
Oklahoma continues to see impressive manufacturing growth through the first half of the year. In fact the Bureau of Economic Analysis ran the numbers and the Sooner state paced the nation in manufacturing earnings growth of durable goods from the first to second quarter of 2014. Oklahoma saw a 4.1 percent increase, a full half a percent higher than the next closest state on the list.

Five Metro Schools Ranked Among America’s Best
Sept. 20, 2014 – Newsweek
Five metro schools made Newsweek’s annual “America’s Top High Schools” list. The rankings are based on achievement and college readiness scores. The five high schools ranked were: Bethany, Classen School of Advanced Studies, Edmond Memorial, Norman and Norman North.

Thunder Ranked Seventh-Best Sports Franchise in North America
Sept. 19, 2014 – ESPN
The Oklahoma City Thunder were recently ranked No. 7 on ESPN’s annual “Best Sport Franchise in North America” list. The list looks at factors like affordability, fan relations, stadium experience and winning. The Thunder were the third ranked NBA team and

Oklahoma Ranks No. 2 for Recent Grads
Sept. 19, 2014 – FindTheBest
Website Find the Best recently set out to find which states have been the best for recent college grads since the recession. Using data such as median income, tuition and unemployment rates, the site ranked Oklahoma No. 2 on its list. If you just graduated college looks like you should be headed to Oklahoma.

OKC among World’s Smartest Cities for Travelers
Aug. 26, 2014 – National Geographic Travel
National Geographic Travel knows a thing or two about the world and recently they named Oklahoma City one of the “World’s Smartest Cities.” The travel pub went on to say, “(Oklahoma City) has transformed 7.5 miles of dry riverbed into an urban park (Oklahoma River Trails) and Olympic-caliber rowing center.”

Forbes: OKC ranks as the No. 7 Best Place for Business 
July 23, 2014 – Forbes
Forbes recently released their 2014 “Best and Worst Places for Business 2014” list and as you would expect Oklahoma City fared well. The metro ranked No. 7 on the list and the publication highlighted OKC’s outstanding job and income growth over the past five years.

OKC Has More CNG Fueling Stations than Any Other City 
July 21, 2014 – Bankrate
Oklahoma City has more fueling stations that any other city in the U.S., with 11 total according to Bankrate.

OKC: No. 1 Best City to Launch a Startup
July 9, 2014 – NerdWallet
Access to funding, labor and the cost of living can make or break a new business. Based on a NerdWalletstudy, OKC is ranked the No. 1 place to start a business in the U.S.

Oklahoma Ranks No. 7 on Thumbtack’s Business Friendly List 
June 26, 2014 – Thumbtack
Oklahoma was given an A+ and ranked No. 7 in Thumbtack’s annual Small Business Friendless Survey. Here in the metro OKC received a grade of A- and was praised for the city’s training and networking programs.

OKC Ranked No. 10 “Best City to Drive a Car” 
June 17, 2014 – Nerd Wallet
Nerd Wallet set out to find which major cities were best for drivers and OKC came in at No. 10. The publication sited OKC’s affordable gas prices as a big positive for the metro.

Oklahoma is Home to One of the Fastest Growing Economies
June 13, 2014 – U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
According to new data released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Oklahoma has one of the top-five-fastest growing economies in the nation. Oklahoma saw a 4.17 percent increase in its GDP while the nation saw only a 1.9 percent increase over the same time span.

Workers are More Satisfied in OKC
June 13, 2014 – Fast Company
According to a new report from Fast Company, workers in Oklahoma City are some of the most satisfied in the nation. The publication ranked OKC No. 8 on its Employment Satisfaction Report Card due to employment opportunities in the metro.

Forbes: Oklahoma One of the Best States to Make a Living
June 9, 2014 – Forbes
Using economic data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and C2ER, Forbes ranked the best (and worst) states to make a living. To no one’s surprise, Oklahoma fared well coming in at No. 9 on the list. Low unemployment and competitive cost of living helped the Sooner State achieve the ranking.

OKC Ranks as a Great Place to Work for a Small Business
May 13, 2014 – Wallet Hub
OKC routinely makes “Best Places to Start a Small Business” lists but what about working for a small business? The metro also ranks high in that regard according to Wallet Hub The website ranked OKC No. 5 on its “Best Cities to Work for a Small Business” ranking.

Looking to Start a Business? OKC is the Place
April 3, 2014 – The Business Journals
According to The Business Journals, if you want to start a small business you should look no further than Oklahoma City. The publication ranked OKC No. 7 on its “Best Metros for Small Business” list. The metro’s population growth helped achieve the status.

CNNMoney: “People are flocking to OKC”
March 31, 2014 – CNNMoney
According to CNNMoney, people are flocking to OKC as the publication ranked the metro No. 9 on its “10 Fastest Growing Cities” list. Oklahoma City’s population has grown by more than 5 percent since 2010.

Oklahoma City Ranks High for Business Startups
March 11, 2014 – WalletHub
Oklahoma City again has received recognition for its business-friendly climate. WalletHub, a personal finance social network , has named Oklahoma City one of the best cities in which to start a business. Out of the 150 largest cities in the United States, Oklahoma City ranked 12th overall for its startup business climate.

Oklahoma City: One of Nation’s Most Affordable Cities
March 11, 2014 – Forbes
Oklahoma City ranks ninth among America’s most affordable cities, according to a March 2014 report in Forbes Magazine. Two factors figured prominently in Forbes’ ranking: the Housing Opportunity Index from the National Association of Home Builders and Wells Fargo the cost-of-living index developed by Sperling’s Best Places.

Workers in their Prime are Moving to OKC
January 31, 2014 – Forbes
Forbes set out to find what major cities workers in their prime (ages 35-49) where moving to. By analyzing population data from 2007 to 2012, the publication found that many workers are finding OKC more than OK. The metro ranked No. 10 on their “Where Workers in their Prime are Moving” ranking.

Forbes Touts OKC as a Retirement Destination
January 16, 2014 – Forbes
After looking at data for more than 400 cities in every state, Forbes found the “25 Best Places to Retire” and Oklahoma City unsurprisingly made the list. The publication listed a good economy, low cost of living, moderate home prices and high volunteer rate as reasons people should look towards OKC to spend their retirement.

10 Best Cities for Job Seekers
January 13, 2014 – Nerd Wallet
If you are looking for a job NerdWallet.com says to look no further than Oklahoma City. The website ranked OKC No. 9 on its “10 Best U.S. Cities for Job Seekers” list. The ranking is based on the city’s low unemployment rate, rapid growth and affordability.

OKC Leads the Nation in Housing Recovery
December 29, 2013 – Wall Street Journal
According to the Wall Street Journal, Oklahoma City ranks No. 1 in home value increases since pre-recession highs of 2007. In fact, OKC home values have increased 13.1 percent, nearly doubling second-place Denver’s growth.

Forbes: Invest in OKC Housing
December 26, 2013 – Forbes
Looking to buy a home? According to Forbes, Oklahoma City should be near the top of your list. The magazine ranked OKC No. 7 on its “Best Cities to Invest in Housing 2014” list. A robust economy and affordable homes helped the metro in the ranking.

Metro has the Momentum Going into New Year
December 26, 2013 – New Geography
Based on a variety of metrics, New Geography listed Oklahoma City as one of the metro areas with the “Most Economic Momentum” for 2014. Overall, OKC ranked No. 8 on the list due in no small part to continued low unemployment and high job growth.

OKC is a Must-Visit Destination 
November 18, 2013 – Complex
Website Complex.com has ranked OKC as one of 10 “U.S. Cities that Transformed into a Must-Visit Destination.” The website highlighted the city’s trails, river sports and rock climbing, calling it “a mecca for those looking for outdoor activity.”

Millennials are Flocking to OKC 
November 14, 2013 – The Atlantic
According to Census data, Oklahoma City is one of the 15 most popular cities for Millennials. In fact, the metro ranks No. 12 in the U.S. for net migration gains during the post-recession years.

Oklahoma City Ranks No. 5 for Middle-Class Job Creation
October 24, 2013 – New Geography
The middle class is thriving in Oklahoma City as a new report by New Geography ranks the metro No. 5 in middle class job creation. OKC has seen a 2.1 percent increase in middle class job creation since 2007. Only eight major U.S. cities posted positive job growth numbers over that time.

OKC Ranks No. 3 in Post-Recession Housing Market Recovery 
October 7, 2013 – Apartment Guide
Oklahoma City ranks 3rd out of 350 metros in the U.S,. in post-recession housing market recovery according to new data from the National Association of Home Builders. Looking at permits, prices and employment, the NAHB found that OKC is actually running at 110 percent its pre-recession activity.

Luxury is Affordable in OKC 
August 5, 2013 – Apartment Guide
According to Apartment Guide, Oklahoma City is one of the best places to find value in the apartment market. The publication ranked OKC No. 9 on its list of “10 Affordable Cities where Luxury Apartments are Within Your Reach”. The ranking was determined by looking at lower rent prices that still provided top amenities to the renters. The ranking is just more proof than in OKC your dollar stretches further.

OKC is a “Magnet of Opportunity”
July 30, 2013 – The Daily Beast
The Daily Beast set out to find the most “Aspirational” cities in the U.S. and unsurprisingly OKC ranked No. 4. The ranking looked at the economy, quality of life and demographics of each city to determine which cities presented the most opportunity to their citizens.

OKC Ranks No. 12 “Brainiest” Metro 
July 16, 2013 – The Atlantic Cities
The Atlantic Cities set out to find the “brainiest” metros in the USA using the cognitive performance index. Measured by several dimensions such as regional innovation and economic performance, Oklahoma City ranks No. 12 out of all large metros in the index.

Running City, USA – OKC Ranks as One of the Fittest Cities in America
July 9, 2013 – Facebook
According to fitness-related check-ins, Facebook ranked OKC No. 8 on its “Fittest Cities” list. In fact, the website gave the Metro the name “Runner City”.

OKC Cracks Top 10 List for New Grads
June 17, 2013 – Apartments.com
As summer begins, new graduates are entering the workforce and according to Apartments.com Oklahoma City is one of the first places they should look to start their career. The website ranked OKC No. 7 on its “Best Cities for New Grads” list. The metro’s low unemployment and rent rates helped obtain the lofty ranking.

Military Families Have a Home in OKC
June 17, 2013 – MilitaryFriendly.com
Oklahoma City and Tinker Air Force Base have always shared a strong bond and MilitaryFriendly.com recognized that support. The website recently named OKC No. 2 on its “Top 50 Military Friendly Cities”. The metro has more than 250 veteran owned businesses.

Tastiest tap water? You bet!
June 12, 2013 – American Water Works Association
According to the American Water Works Association, Oklahoma City has the best tap water in the U.S. OKC won the annual “Best of the Best” Tap Water Taste Test at the AWWA’s annual conference.

Forbes: OKC is an American Manufacturing Boomtown
May 30, 2013 – Forbes
According to a report from Forbes, Oklahoma City is one of the cities helping an American renaissance in manufacturing. In fact, the publication ranked OKC No. 4 on it “Manufacturing Boomtown” list. The metro has seen a 15.7 percent increase in manufacturing jobs since 2009.