Population growth shows OKC in sweet spot

By: J. David Chapman/June 23, 2022

In the last four years, Oklahoma City has seen its ranking grow from the 27th largest city up to the 20th largest city in the Unites States.

I have written about the importance of the U.S. census. The census is an important report card on how we are performing as a city. Ultimately, the best judge of whether your city is a place where people want to live is population increase or decrease. Oklahoma City is moving up! The new census population data showed OKC’s population at 687,700 people, which moved us up to the 20th largest city in the country, just behind Denver.

This is a big deal. Between 2020 and 2021, we leaped over Nashville and Washington, D.C. We are now larger than some very respected cities. Even better news for our community is the continued growth in our suburbs, which is producing impressive growth numbers for the metropolitan area. As our transportation networks mature, between the suburbs and OKC, we will see more interest in amenities that require larger numbers of patrons such as professional sports teams.

Economists predicted growth in Oklahoma’s population after the pandemic. The lack of long-term economic shutdowns during the pandemic has been criticized by some national pundits; however, it is hard to argue the results in our population growth and economic performance created by the decisions made. Our decisions preserved jobs, and population tends to follow job opportunities.

Of course size is only one of the variables that we compare. We also continue to compare crime, school performance, airline connections, and general quality of life. Starting with the first Metropolitan Area Projects one-cent sales tax approved in 1993, OKC has continued to invest in quality-of-life amenities for its citizens. Now the fourth iteration, known as MAPS4, features nearly $1 billion of projects, including a new fairgrounds coliseum, multipurpose stadium, and upgrades to the Paycom Center – home to the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder.

Currently the OKC metro area is a unique sweet spot with a low cost of living and an ease of living combined with the modern amenities of a large American city. We should enjoy this place we are in because, as the population increases, prices will also increase. But for now, enjoy those amenities that come with being a Big League City without the disadvantages.

J. David Chapman is a professor of finance and real estate at the University of Central Oklahoma (jchapman7@uco.edu).