MOVING!!! Help

[phikappa5]

My husband was just promoted and we will be moving to The Tulsa area.  I have never been there!  Where are nice places to live?  We have 3 children and a modest income.  Looking for low crime, clean, friendly, down to earth people.  What surrounding areas would you recommend?  Are allowed to live within 30 miles of Tulsa if needed (would prefer suburb) not used to a big city.  Thank you in advance!!!

[sgrizzle]

It would help if you tell us where you're coming from so we might be able to point you at what you're looking for. Keep in mind that the majority of the city is a suburban environment.

[phikappa5]

We are moving from a little town called Lahoma, 10 miles west of Enid, Oklahoma.

[cannon_fodder]

1. I'm doing a "moving to Tulsa" write up.  Just decided that.

2. I grew up in a town of 60K and my wife grew up in a town of 1400, then we went to college in a town of 30K.  Then moved our family to the middle of Tulsa with no ill effects at all.

Granted we were pretty worldly in that we frequently traveled to larger cities and were looking forward to living in a larger city.  But remember, Tulsa is not New York, Dallas, or the like.  It is a mid-sized city.

3. Where ever in Tulsa you move to, you will have a bubble of existence.  Just like any town larger than 50K people you *really* only live in your little part of town.  Not sure how this matters, but I surely noticed it moving to a "big" city.

With all that in mind, there are PLENTY of choices of "small towns" you can live in around Tulsa.  Collinsville, Sperry, Skiatook, Wagoner, Sperry, Manford...  if your husband is willing to spend 350 hours each year (14.5 days) driving  30 miles each way there are TONS of little towns you can move to.  But keep in mind the cumulative time and cost (governmental rate of 50 cents per mile = $9000 in fuel and wear and tear per year) of such a commute.  
- - -

I know, not very helpful.  But really the choices are plentiful if your husband really is willing to drive 30 miles per day.

Where in Tulsa will he be working?  North, Downtown, South Tulsa?


[edit] PS.  Congrats on the promotion![/edit]

[TUalum0982]

It really depends on what you are looking for.  Tulsa has a little bit of everything for everyone.  If you are wanting great schools I would suggest Jenks.  If you want to live close to shopping I would suggest Union.  If you want to be away from everything but minutes (25-30) away from Tulsa, try Owasso or Collinsville.  

If you are wanting good schools, close to Tulsa, and relatively decent shopping with easy access to highways, Jenks is good.  There is also Owasso (north of Tulsa), Broken Arrow (East of Tulsa), Union (south Tulsa).

Keep in mind that certain areas are going to have higher property taxes because of the school system.  If you want to know roughly how much they are check out the tulsa county asessors website at http://www.assessor.tulsacounty.org/

Click on tax estimate on the left hand side.

Hope that helps.

[Radar]

Make sure that you live in either Jenks or Union school districts. Your children will thank you for it.

[cannon_fodder]

I live in Tulsa Schools district and took my son out of the University School to attend a Tulsa Public school.  Literally, he thanked me for it.  Nice facilities, strong PTA, teachers that actually care and required "homework" for parents.

I wonder how many people that pass on the tidbit about TPS have ever had a student actually enrolled there.

[sauerkraut]

"T" Town is a great place to live. I don't live in Tulsa now, but I have lived there and I visit Tulsa alot- I have also lived in the D/FW MetroPlex. I like west Tulsa across the river. it has old time charm and is more relaxed. South Tulsa is nice but traffic choked. My favorite area in Tulsa is the RiverSide jogging trails, since I'm a running nut. Living anyplace near RiverSide Drive is nice. Tulsa gets very cold in winter, but the summers are mild, warm and great. Welcome![]

[RecycleMichael]

My kids got into one of the Tulsa Public Schools magnet programs and we couldn't be happier. We bought a big home in east Tulsa with a beautiful lot and paid less than the national average for housing.

I filled up my vehicle with gasoline this morning and paid the lowest price in the country. Our company expanded this year and the hardest challenge is keeping employees because other companies are expanding as well. This year the new arena will open as well as a big new shopping center.

Things are going well in Tulsa right now.

Don't live in the suburbs, move into the big city. After leaving such a small town, it may take some adjusting, but you will love the excitement and variety of options you get living in a city of 400,000 and a metro area of twice that.

[rwarn17588]

If you're looking for small-town feel, the west side (Red Fork, Carbondale) is good for that. Very low crime, very quiet (except for the usual trains) and the housing stock here is affordable.

[phikappa5]

Thanks for the great tips!  We are now focusing on the Owasso or Broken Arrow area.  Next, on the list is to find a teaching job for myself.  Wish me luck!  Thanks again to all that took the time to reply, I apprecite it!

[cks511]

I just bought a house on the west side (Red Fork, Carbondale) for $40k less than what the comparable brings in mid-town.  Not bashing mid-town just more for your buck on the west side.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by cks511

I just bought a house on the west side (Red Fork, Carbondale) for $40k less than what the comparable brings in mid-town.  Not bashing mid-town just more for your buck on the west side.

yeah....you certainly get more for your buck...though I don't think I want what you are getting.

[AngieB]

quote:Originally posted by cks511

I just bought a house on the west side (Red Fork, Carbondale) for $40k less than what the comparable brings in mid-town.  Not bashing mid-town just more for your buck on the west side.

Welcome to Tulsa's Best Kept Secret, cks! I'm a lifelong Westsider, PM me if you want to chat about anything.

quote:Originally posted by inteller

quote:Originally posted by cks511

I just bought a house on the west side (Red Fork, Carbondale) for $40k less than what the comparable brings in mid-town.  Not bashing mid-town just more for your buck on the west side.

yeah....you certainly get more for your buck...though I don't think I want what you are getting.

I'm glad you feel that way, inteller. We don't want you over here anyway. NICE people live on the Westside.

[cks511]

Will do TM.  Thanks.  You can't have it interteller.