Moving to Edmond OK? What you need to know before relocating to Oklahoma
Outdoors
According to the city’s website, Edmond has 33 public parks. These parks include playgrounds, walking trails, water features, sports courts and fields, and so much more! As a mother of two young children, I love knowing that there is always a safe kid-friendly place to play nearby!
Lake Arcadia
Edmond is also home to the beautiful Lake Arcadia. That’s what we locals call it, anyway- it is technically named Arcadia Lake.
Lake Arcadia provides residents with the opportunity to fish, boat, and swim. Recreational areas around the lake offer many other activities, including, mountain biking, hiking, disc golf, playgrounds, and horseback riding. There are also RV hookups and numerous picnic areas surrounding the lake.
Safety
Edmond is a very safe place to live. According to area vibes, the city’s crime rate is 55% LOWER than the average crime rate in Oklahoma, and 46% LOWER that the nation’s mean.
And while I can’t prove it scientifically, I suspect it might be partially because we have such amazing police officers who truly seem to love their jobs.
They keep us safe and always make us smile!
Edmond Public Schools
One of the most common questions I receive from families moving to Edmond is, “How are the schools?”
Well put simply, Edmond Public schools are the best in the state! According to US News, all three of Edmond’s high schools rank in the top 10 high schools in the state of Oklahoma. Niche puts the Edmond Public School District in the number 1 spot for the state of Oklahoma.
And if you ask the students and parents… well they all seem pretty happy as well!
Affordability
The cost of living in Edmond, OK is about 4% below the national average. When paired with the higher than average quality of life offered here, you can certainly get a lot of bang for your buck!
With a median sales price of a home in Edmond just $225,250 (in January 2019), the housing market is also very affordable.
Careers
There are lots of great employers in the Edmond and northern Oklahoma City areas. In Edmond, two of the largest are the Edmond Public School System and the University of Central Oklahoma. But just down the road is Paycom, which recently ranked #2 on Fortune’s list of fastest growing companies in the U.S.
Additional private companies headquartered in the OKC area include Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Hobby Lobby, OGE, Sonic, and American Fidelity. And if those names aren’t big enough, the OKC metro is also well represented by Boeing, AT&T, Dell, Hertz, and UPS.
Activities and Events
There are always MANY fun things to do in Edmond, OK. In fact, I collect a huge list of things to do in OKC and Edmond that I publish each week. You can read past weeks’ events HERE, or sign up to receive this list each week via email:
Some of the city’s biggest events include the Edmond Arts Festival each spring, and our fabulous Heard on Hurd events held once a month from March through October.
During the warmer months, you can find free family-friendly activities almost every weekend. If there’s one thing we do well in Edmond, it’s getting out and enjoying our community!
Golf
Edmond is a golfer’s dream come true! There are seven beautiful golf courses in Edmond, with the most famous and longest being Oak Tree National which earned national attention when it hosted the 2014 U.S. Senior Open.
Higher Education
Edmond is also home to two major universities, including the University of Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma Christian University, which combine to add an additional population of over 17,000 college students each year. It’s also within about an hour’s drive to Oklahoma’s two largest universities: the University of Oklahoma (OU) to the south and Oklahoma State University (OSU) to the north.
And with so many amazing job opportunities in the area, there are always lots of new college graduates moving to Edmond.
Maybe it’s because of all these universities that Edmond was named Oklahoma’s most educated city!
Food and Drinks
Edmond has some of the best restaurants you’ll ever experience! Seriously, there is an abundance of good food and drinks in this city- you definitely will not be disappointed.
There’s no way I can detail every establishment in town, but here are 5 of the best restaurants in Edmond (in my opinion) to get you started:
- Signature Grill. Oh man… I just type those words and my mouth starts watering! With it’s cozy, upscale environment, this is one restaurant you don’t want to miss.
- Cafe 501. Ask any local where their favorite place is to meet friends for lunch, and there is a good chance they’ll say 501. If you go- tell them Ashley sent you and be sure to get one of their ricotta cookies- trust me on this one!
- Hidalgo’s. We have lots of delicious Mexican restaurants in Edmond, but Hidalgo’s is my personal favorite. They have interesting takes on all my favorite dishes, and the best green sauce, white sauce, salsa, and queso in town!
- Ellis Island. For coffee, breakfast, desserts, and wine- you’ve got to visit Ellis Island! This is a delightful little shop in downtown Edmond- perfect for catching up with friends.
- The Patriarch. And if you’re looking for the best selection of local beers, accompanied by food truck dishes and live music- you’ve got to hit up the Patriarch!
Weather
Do you like having 4 seasons in your year? Come to Edmond! Part of what I love most about living in Oklahoma is the ever-changing weather. While winters can definitely get cold- they don’t stay that way for long. The same is true for our hot summers- we almost always get a break in the extreme temperatures during each season. There’s not too much snow or rain, either! Here are some of the basic facts about weather in Edmond, OK:
- Coldest month: January with an average low of 28°F
- Hottest month: July with an average high of 95°F
- Wettest month: May with an average of 5.2″ of precipitation
Moving to Edmond means you get to experience a little bit of every kind of weather!
Sports
We certainly do love our sports here in Edmond- at the high school, college, and pro levels!
I mentioned golf earlier, but it won’t take you long to realize that there’s another pro sport Oklahomans are also crazy about- basketball! We are very proud of our Oklahoma City Thunder NBA team, and you’ll see fans sporting their thunder gear everywhere you go.
We also have some very competitive high school events, with the whole community often coming out to cheer on our students.
And then there is the world of college sports. This is Big 12 country, and fans aren’t afraid to show support for the Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State Cowboys. As I mentioned earlier, both schools are only about an hour away, so there are MANY opportunities to attend NCAA events.
Oklahoma City is also home to its own minor league baseball team- the Oklahoma City Dodgers. They play just 20 minutes away from Edmond at the Bricktown Ballpark.
Final Thoughts on Moving to Edmond
I’ve lived in cities all across the state of Oklahoma, and there is a good reason I chose Edmond as my home. It is truly a wonderful place to live.
If you are considering moving to Edmond, I would love to send you recommendations or even show you around town to help you see it through the eyes of a local.
I also have connections throughout the community to assist you in relocating to Oklahoma if you need some help. And most of all- I would love to help you find your dream home here. Please don’t hesitate to give me a call and let me know how I can help you move to Edmond, OK! Contact me.
2 Comments
Beverly Dunn
My husband is wanting us to move from Sherman, Texas, to Edmond. He has family nearby. I am wanting a house with character, but most houses he is showing me from online photos all look like the same style. Any suggestions? Our price range is around $250,000.
Christene Angell
Thank you for this awesome information. It was truly helpful and gave me great insight for our possible move from Alaska.