Study: Happiest Cities in Oklahoma

The blue skies and rolling prairies aren't the only things that are wide in the Sooner State. The smiles are too, at least in certain parts of Oklahoma where short commutes are commonplace and median incomes give residents an overall warm feeling.

The CreditDonkey experts have made it their mission to find out which cities are the happiest in each state, and Oklahoma is our latest target. Whether you're an Oklahoma native or a newcomer, take a look at the 10 places that have the most satisfied residents overall.

Study Methodology

Large cities like Oklahoma City and Tulsa may steal the spotlight whenever you hear about Oklahoma, but the smaller towns are noteworthy as well. So we decided to include places with a population of 10,000 or higher in our study. We collected U.S. Census data and FBI Uniform Crime Reports for each city in seven categories, and our final list reflects the ones that had the best ranking based on:

1. Restaurants
   
2. Crime rate
   
3. Commute
   
4. Departure time
   
5. Income
   
6. Divorce rate
   
7. Housing

Getting together for dinner with friends or family is a nice pick-me-up when you're having a rough week, so we looked at the number of restaurants per capita in each city. Those cities with a higher number of eateries are spreading happiness around, with every bite.

Safety is always a priority and living in an area that's prone to crime can dash your spirits. To find those cities where residents have the most peace of mind, we considered the odds of being the victim of a violent crime and boosted cities with lower rates higher on our list.

Facing a long workday after being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the morning drive can turn even the happiest of souls into a real grouch. But the for the cities on this list, the average commute times are bearable, reducing the likelihood of grouchiness on the neighborhood streets.

Studies suggest that getting a head start on the day can boost your energy levels and make you a bit more cheerful to boot. To see how Oklahomans fare under that claim, we looked at the percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.

When you're content in your job, it becomes much easier to face the daily grind, especially if there's a hefty paycheck waiting for you at the end of the week. We ranked our cities based in part on the median household income to see where workers receive the biggest payoff.

We know that every marriage has its ups and downs, but if you're generally pretty happy, it's a lot easier to weather the rough spots. To gauge how satisfied couples are, we considered the percentage of men and women in each city who are divorced.

Buying a home is the cornerstone of the American Dream, but renting has its perks too. Regardless of which option you choose, the most important thing is that you don't go broke paying for a place to live. For our final study measure, we compared each city based on the percentage of income residents spend on housing.

10 Happiest Cities in Oklahoma

10. Lawton

• Restaurants per capita: 1 per 604 inhabitants
  
• Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 107.4
  
• Average commute time: 14.5 minutes
  
• Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 7.6%
  
• Median household income: $43,953
  
• Percentage of residents who are divorced: 11.6% of males, 17.6% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 21.9%

With over 98,000 inhabitants, Lawton is one of Oklahoma's larger cities, and the people who live here seem to have a pretty positive outlook. Almost 7% of residents are making their way to work before 5 a.m., and on average, it takes them less than 15 minutes to reach their destination. At nearly $44,000, the median income is nothing to sneeze at and there's plenty of budget-friendly housing available.

Did You Know: Actress Joan Crawford grew up in Lawton, and her stepfather ran the local movie theater.

9. Broken Arrow

• Restaurants per capita: 1 per 718 inhabitants
  
• Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 649.6
  
• Average commute time: 20.3 minutes
  
• Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 2.9%
  
• Median household income: $64,411
  
• Percentage of residents who are divorced: 9.2% of males, 11.9% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 20.6%

Broken Arrow is Tulsa's largest suburb, with a population of more than 102,000 residents. People here have lots of reasons to be cheerful, starting with safe neighborhoods and housing prices that won't strain your wallet. Getting to work takes about 20 minutes on average, which is sweet in and of itself, but it's even better when you consider the higher median income residents bring in. Mexican and Asian flavors make frequent appearances in the local dining scene, and Main Street Tavern has got some of the best pub food around.

Did You Know: There are many theories about how Broken Arrow got its name, but the most commonly accepted one is that it came from Creek Indians who lived in the area and used broken tree branches to make their arrows.

8. Yukon

• Restaurants per capita: 1 per 492 inhabitants
  
• Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 716.2
  
• Average commute time: 20.9 minutes
  
• Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 3.9%
  
• Median household income: $61,766
  
• Percentage of residents who are divorced: 12.7% of males, 14.7% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 18.9%

Home to about 24,000 people, Yukon is a smaller suburb located west of Oklahoma City. Some of the things that have its residents singing its praises include a relatively low occurrence of violent crime and a fairly short drive time to work. It also helps that workers take home a median pay of close to $62,000, and less than 19% of that goes towards housing on average.

Did You Know: Country singer Garth Brooks grew up in Yukon, and one of the city's main thoroughfares is named after him.

7. Mustang

• Restaurants per capita: 1 per 580 inhabitants
  
• Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 624.6
  
• Average commute time: 23.2 minutes
  
• Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 3.6%
  
• Median household income: $66,382
  
• Percentage of residents who are divorced: 8.7% of males, 12.5% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 18.5%

Mustang is another Oklahoma City suburb, situated about 10 miles south of Yukon. Close to 19,000 people reside in the area and based on our study findings, we think they've got a lot to be glad about. Whether you're buying a home or renting, housing costs aren't outrageous and they're balanced out by a higher median income. The average commute is slightly longer, at just over 23 minutes, but it doesn't seem to be cause for complaint.

Did You Know: The Western Days Festival is Mustang's largest annual event, featuring live music, rodeo events and a chili cook-off.

6. Choctaw

• Restaurants per capita: 1 per 1,057 inhabitants
  
• Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 816.7
  
• Average commute time: 26.7 minutes
  
• Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 4.4%
  
• Median household income: $62,458
  
• Percentage of residents who are divorced: 6.9% of males, 12.4% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 17.5%

Choctaw is the least populated city in our rankings and one of Oklahoma City's smaller suburbs. There are only about 11,600 residents but they look like a chipper crowd, considering things like the crime rate, the amount they spend on housing and the kind of salary they earn. If you're a fan of all-American home-style cooking, places like the Boomarang Cafe and Dixie Diner serve up your comfort food favorites.

Did You Know: Choctaw is the oldest chartered town in Oklahoma.

5. Edmond

• Restaurants per capita: 1 per 491 inhabitants
  
• Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 982
  
• Average commute time: 20.8 minutes
  
• Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 1.9%
  
• Median household income: $71,216
  
• Percentage of residents who are divorced: 7.9% of males, 10.1% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 19.1%

Edmond finishes fifth overall in our rankings, but it scored the best ratings in two different categories. Its nearly 85,000 residents enjoy both the lowest violent crime rate and the highest median income, at more than $71,000. Not too many of Edmond's workers are on the road early, but the ones who are can make it to work in less than 21 minutes on average. Home prices are a little higher compared to nearby Oklahoma City, but it still won't eat up too much of your income.

Did You Know: Shannon Miller, the most decorated gymnast in U.S. history, hails from Edmond.

4. Owasso

• Restaurants per capita: 1 per 419 inhabitants
  
• Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 536.4
  
• Average commute time: 20.5 minutes
  
• Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 4.5%
  
• Median household income: $66,074
  
• Percentage of residents who are divorced: 8.9% of males, 13.2% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 20.2%

The city of Owasso, which sits just to the northeast of Tulsa, has become one of the area's more popular suburbs in recent years. A higher median income and short average commute are attractive to working professionals, while the low crime rate and moderately priced housing appeal to families. The Akira Sushi Bar offers delicious food and a great atmosphere that's perfect for a night out with friends.

Did You Know: The Pride of Owasso Marching Band appeared in the Rose Bowl Tournament of Roses Parade in both 2004 and 2011.

3. Bartlesville

• Restaurants per capita: 1 per 394 inhabitants
  
• Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 366.9
  
• Average commute time: 15.7 minutes
  
• Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 2.4%
  
• Median household income: $48,036
  
• Percentage of residents who are divorced: 11.2% of males, 15.2% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 16.6%

Bartlesville can be found north of Tulsa, bordering the Osage Indian Reservation. This city of 36,000 residents takes the number three spot, with lower housing costs and one of the shortest commute times, pushing it a little higher in our rankings. Bartlesville has a strong economy that's bolstered by the presence of companies like the Phillips Petroleum Co., and workers citywide are rewarded with a median payday that approaches $50,000.

Did You Know: Bartlesville's Price Tower is the only skyscraper designed by Frank Lloyd Wright to be constructed.

2. Elk City

• Restaurants per capita: 1 per 340 inhabitants
  
• Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 539.1
  
• Average commute time: 15.4 minutes
  
• Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 3.6%
  
• Median household income: $56,332
  
• Percentage of residents who are divorced: 12.9% of males, 15.7% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 14.3%

Why are residents of Elk City so happy? It may have something to do with the fact that residents here spend the lowest percentage of their income on housing and have the highest number of restaurants per capita. Not only that, workers are able to get to the office in under 16 minutes on average and their income isn't small potatoes. Last but not least, there's the violent crime rate, which is better than both the state and national average.

Did You Know: Elk City styles itself as the "Natural Gas Capital of the World," and one of the world's tallest oil rigs is on display in the downtown area.

1. Guymon

• Restaurants per capita: 1 per 411 inhabitants
  
• Odds of being the victim of a violent crime: 1 in 410.2
  
• Average commute time: 14.4 minutes
  
• Percentage of residents leaving for work before 5 a.m.: 5.5%
  
• Median household income: $47,775
  
• Percentage of residents who are divorced: 6.6% of males, 7.8% of females
  
• Percentage of income spent on housing: 16.5%

Guymon is tucked away in the Oklahoma panhandle, and the nearly 12,000 people who live here appreciate its quiet, small-town feel. Married couples appear to be basking in the glow of wedded bliss; just over 14% of residents are divorced, the lowest rate in our rankings. Guymon's residents don't mind an early wake-up call and 5.5% start their day before the sun is up. The drive to work takes very little time, and the median pay of almost $48,000 is sure to put a smile on your face.

If you're surprised that your city didn't make the list, don't let it get you down. Some of the places that didn't make the cut scored well in certain categories but just not the level of our top 10’s overall ranking. Here are a few more cities that still rank pretty high on the happiness scale: