More people chose to move to Oklahoma City from 2024 to 2025 than to Detroit, Kansas City, San Diego or Philadelphia, according to recent U.S. Census Bureau data.
There were over 17,000 people who uprooted their lives and moved into one of the five cities from July 1, 2024, to the next July 1, according to the latest census data released in May.
The five cities all have professional sports, diverse economies mainly supported by one industry, and an overall good quality of life. However, Oklahoma City beats out the rest for potentially one aspect:
Cost of living.
Oklahoma City’s housing value index, which compares housing costs to median household income, is significantly better than each of the five markets, according to data analyzed by U.S. News & World Report.
Here’s what this means and why Oklahoma City is continuing its climb up the list.
See the best photos from what’s going on around Oklahoma
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Jordan M/. Wells rehearses with cast members for the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma’s production of “Beehive” in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026.
(BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN)Oklahoma City ranked one of the fastest-growing cities in nation
According to data retrieved from the U.S. Census Bureau, Oklahoma City grew by 6,104 people between July 1, 2024, and July 2025.
While this trails closely behind some other cities in the nation, like Columbus, Ohio (7,696) and Surprise, Arizona (7,702), it still places the Sooner City in the top 9 spots overall.
The new influx of Oklahomans took the city to a total of 719,849 people, accounting for those who left town.
It was a total of nearly a 1% increase in population.
In 2025, U-Haul reported that there were several reasons that were pulling people to move to Oklahoma City.
“People are moving to Oklahoma because the cost of living is well below the national average,” said Jim Smith, U-Haul Company of Tulsa president, in a news release. “They can move here and enjoy a better life and lower cost of living.”
Smith continued to cite the different sectors of industry as well, such as aerospace, energy and finance.
Statistician with the Census Bureau’s Population Division Matt Erickson said that mid-sized cities are finding a “goldilocks zone” for growth.
“Big-city growth slowed significantly between 2024 and 2025, with some major hubs even seeing small declines,” Erickson said. “In contrast, midsized cities found a ‘Goldilocks zone’ where domestic and international migration, paired with new housing, helped prevent the sluggish growth seen in small towns and larger metropolitan centers.”
Furthering this, Oklahoma City held its position as the 21st most populated city in the nation, closely behind Nashville, Tennessee, and Denver, Colorado.
People fill Scissortail Park in downtown Oklahoma City in June 2025.
Enid named Oklahoma city with most departures
In the same study, the census data showed that Enid experienced the largest percentage loss of its population among cities in Oklahoma from 2024 to 2025.
The city, which was estimated to have a 2025 population of 50,297 people, lost .5% of its population.
The estimated 232 people who left Enid continue a downward turn of almost 2% population loss since 2020.
While it did experience a drop in population, Enid still outpaces Oklahoma City in quality of life, as ranked by U.S. News.
The annual list places the north-central Oklahoma town at the fourth best place to live in the state, just one spot higher than the capital city.
U.S. News cites the shorter commute, lower median home value and rent as major factors in quality of life.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: US Census data shows OKC outpacing major cities in new residents. Here’s why.