Tulsa Living

Regions and Neighborhoods | Housing Costs | Diversity: Urban Living
Transportation | Education | Superior Health Care Resources

Regions and Neighborhoods

From refurbished downtown lofts to elegant neighborhoods built during the oil heydays to spacious suburban living, the Tulsa metro area offers housing that suits a variety of tastes and needs. Like many communities around the country, Tulsa is experiencing a renaissance in the older sections of town. Single-family neighborhoods and tree-lined suburbs will always appeal to certain homebuyers. Yet there’s a growing interest among baby-boomers and empty nesters alike in high-density, mixed-use development as an alternative to suburban sprawl. A cadre of urban pioneers is busy reclaiming blighted buildings downtown and transforming them into loft apartments and townhouses.

Outlying communities continue to beckon homebuyers looking for extra space and the serenity of country living. Along with easy access to shopping, health care and area attractions, communities along the urban perimeter boast the quickest one-way commutes. Ranked as the largest metro region with the second-shortest commute zone in the nation, the average commute time is approximately 20 minutes. This allows residents to drive to work and return home much faster than their counterparts in Dallas, Oklahoma City, Houston and Denver. Convenient and attractive, these communities enable Tulsans to enjoy the amenities of urban living and the lifestyle of a small town.

The city proper encompasses many neighborhoods with distinct personalities. No matter what part of town you call home, expect an array of choices and a quality of life that only gets better.

The world famous Philbrook Mudeum is nestled within the Brookside neighborhood surrounded by the landscape and Renaissance artistry.

Neighborhood surrounding Woodward Park benefit from the landscape throughout the year.

North

Reflecting Tulsa’s colorful heritage, attractive houses of early-day oil barons and their employees sprinkle the hilltops in the Brady Heights and Reservoir Hill neighborhoods. Meanwhile, new family-oriented developments and infill projects continue to inject new life and vitality into aging neighborhoods. Further to the north are Tulsa International Airport and the nearby community of Owasso. Once a quiet suburban town, Owasso has become one of the area’s fastest-growing communities and is a beacon for employees of American Airlines, Spirit Aerosystems, SABRE, WorldCom, Vanguard, and Whirlpool.

South

For decades, Tulsa has steadily grown south and that pace has quickened in recent times, especially along the Arkansas River. New housing and apartment complexes, businesses and office buildings are constantly springing up. South Tulsa is highlighted by the 71st Street retail corridor, which features abundant shopping and the convenience of Woodland Hills Mall. South of Tulsa, Bixby continues to experience a building boom in new houses and apartments. Known for its fertile soil, the Bixby area is home to sprawling vegetable and sod farms. Jenks, Glenpool and Sapulpa offer suburban living and plenty of room for horses. Tulsa is only minutes away via Highway 75, and expansion of the Creek Turnpike offers convenient access to the interstate highway system.

East

Broken Arrow has become Tulsa’s largest bedroom community with a population of 90,000. Construction of new housing, apartments and retail establishments continues to blur the line between the two communities. Broken Arrow residents have easy access to south Tulsa’s retail corridor and a smooth commute to downtown Tulsa via the Broken Arrow Expressway. Just east of Broken Arrow, the town of Coweta is also an attractive community with affordable housing.

West

Communities to the west have seen rapid growth in recent years. New housing developments are appearing in outlying areas of the city of Sand Springs, which straddles the Arkansas River upstream from Tulsa. The Red Fork area reflects Tulsa’s oil-related and blue collar past. Towns such as Berryhill and north Sapulpa also offer new housing and apartment developments for Tulsa commuters.

Diversity: Urban Living

Though located in America’s heartland, Tulsa is a surprisingly diverse community thanks to its history, industry and geography. Virtually every ethnic group and culture is represented to some extent, from Native Americans to more recent influxes of eastern European and Hispanic immigrants. The city’s historic ties to the energy industry also have attracted people from countries around the world. Many of these groups showcase their cultures at festivals and celebrations throughout the year.