#1Piedmont
Canadian County · 9,427 peopleStrongest: safety A+, schools A·lowest: walkability D
C+CostA+SafetyASchoolsB+HealthAJobsDWalkCHazards
Piedmont, #1 on this list · Cartmill Farm House · Photo: Melodibit · CC BY-SA 3.0Oklahoma rankings · 2026
Best small towns in Oklahoma
Piedmont ranks first of Oklahoma’s 85 graded small towns (2,500–9,999 residents), with an A: safety (A+) and schools (A) are its strongest grades; walkability (D) is its lowest. 3 of the 85 (4%) grade A− or better nationally, against 25% of U.S. towns.
The overall grade, sorted: cost of living, safety, schools, health, jobs & income, walkability and hazard risk, from Census, FBI, state, CDC, EPA and FEMA data. How grades work
#1A
#2Verdigris
Rogers County · 5,888 peopleStrongest: safety A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: walkability C
BCostA−SafetyB+SchoolsBHealthA−JobsCWalkCHazards
Tuttle
Grady County · 8,708 peopleStrongest: schools A, jobs & income A−·lowest: hazard risk C−
B−CostB+SafetyASchoolsBHealthA−JobsC−WalkC−Hazards
Where they are: One of the top 10 is in Canadian County.
All 85 small towns
Overall score, highest first. The score (0–100) blends the seven livability grades and sets the order; the letter places that score among every U.S. town of 2,500+, and A+ is the top 5%, so neighbors on the list often share a letter. Each town links to its page, where the grade sheet shows every subject. The rank is the town’s place among all 131 Oklahoma towns.
85 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownScoreGradeWhat drives it
1PiedmontCanadian County · 9,427 people66.3top 14.0%AStrongest: safety A+, schools A·lowest: walkability D
2VerdigrisRogers County · 5,888 people64.7top 17.5%A−Strongest: safety A−, jobs & income A−·lowest: walkability C
3TuttleGrady County · 8,708 people62.1top 23.7%A−Strongest: schools A, jobs & income A−·lowest: hazard risk C−
8CollinsvilleTulsa County · 9,956 people60.7top 27.6%B+Strongest: schools A−, safety A−·lowest: hazard risk C
13ElginComanche County · 3,653 people58.7top 32.6%B+Strongest: safety A+, schools A·lowest: cost of living C
15GoldsbyMcClain County · 3,591 people58.3top 33.9%B+Strongest: jobs & income A−, health B+·lowest: hazard risk C
17Bethel AcresPottawatomie County · 3,301 people56.3top 39.1%BStrongest: schools A, cost of living B+·lowest: health C−
18AlvaWoods County · 4,880 people56.2top 39.6%BStrongest: walkability A, schools A−·lowest: jobs & income D
19New CordellWashita County · 2,746 people56.1top 39.9%BStrongest: cost of living A+, schools A−·lowest: walkability C−
20SulphurMurray County · 4,878 people55.5top 41.2%BStrongest: cost of living A, schools B+·lowest: health C−
22FairviewMajor County · 2,632 people55.0top 42.7%BStrongest: cost of living A+, schools A−·lowest: hazard risk D
24MannfordCreek County · 3,432 people54.4top 44.3%BStrongest: safety A−, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability C−
25HarrahOklahoma County · 7,212 people54.3top 44.5%BStrongest: schools A−, cost of living B·lowest: walkability C−
26MarlowStephens County · 4,514 people54.0top 45.3%B−Strongest: cost of living A, schools A−·lowest: health C−
27NobleCleveland County · 7,748 people53.4top 47.1%B−Strongest: jobs & income B+, cost of living B+·lowest: walkability C−
28PerryNoble County · 4,448 people53.3top 47.4%B−Strongest: cost of living A, schools A−·lowest: health C−
30Lone GroveCarter County · 5,244 people53.1top 48.0%B−Strongest: schools A, cost of living B·lowest: walkability C
32CacheComanche County · 3,239 people51.3bottom 47.1%B−Strongest: schools A−, cost of living B+·lowest: hazard risk D
33MangumGreer County · 2,683 people51.2bottom 46.8%B−Strongest: cost of living A+, schools A−·lowest: jobs & income D−
34SkiatookOsage County · 8,960 people50.9bottom 46.2%B−Strongest: schools A−, cost of living B+·lowest: hazard risk C
35McLoudPottawatomie County · 4,564 people50.9bottom 46.0%B−Strongest: cost of living A, walkability B+·lowest: hazard risk C
37JonesOklahoma County · 3,222 people50.4bottom 44.5%C+Strongest: schools B+, jobs & income B·lowest: walkability C−
38Nichols HillsOklahoma County · 3,864 people49.5bottom 42.1%C+Strongest: jobs & income A+, health A·lowest: cost of living D
39ClevelandPawnee County · 3,271 people49.2bottom 41.5%C+Strongest: cost of living A, walkability A−·lowest: health C−
40KingfisherKingfisher County · 5,201 people49.1bottom 41.2%C+Strongest: schools A, walkability A−·lowest: hazard risk D
41SayreBeckham County · 4,783 people49.1bottom 41.1%C+Strongest: cost of living A−, walkability A−·lowest: jobs & income D−
43TonkawaKay County · 2,983 people48.7bottom 40.1%C+Strongest: cost of living A+, walkability B+·lowest: jobs & income C−
44ChandlerLincoln County · 2,963 people48.7bottom 40.0%C+Strongest: cost of living A, schools A−·lowest: jobs & income D
45Fort GibsonMuskogee County · 3,814 people48.2bottom 38.5%C+Strongest: schools A, walkability B−·lowest: health C−
46PocolaLe Flore County · 4,660 people48.0bottom 37.9%C+Strongest: safety A−, cost of living B+·lowest: health D
49BristowCreek County · 4,381 people46.6bottom 34.4%CStrongest: cost of living A, walkability A−·lowest: health D
54StroudLincoln County · 2,913 people45.7bottom 32.1%CStrongest: cost of living A+, walkability B·lowest: jobs & income D
55LindsayGarvin County · 2,929 people45.6bottom 31.7%CStrongest: cost of living A, schools B·lowest: jobs & income D
56CushingPayne County · 8,390 people45.5bottom 31.5%CStrongest: schools A−, cost of living B+·lowest: jobs & income D
58PurcellMcClain County · 7,030 people45.1bottom 30.5%CStrongest: cost of living B+, schools B+·lowest: safety C−
61ClintonCuster County · 8,302 people44.7bottom 29.4%CStrongest: cost of living A−, walkability B·lowest: health D
62FrederickTillman County · 3,371 people44.4bottom 28.7%CStrongest: schools A, cost of living B+·lowest: jobs & income D
63The VillageOklahoma County · 9,276 people44.2bottom 28.4%CStrongest: health A−, jobs & income B+·lowest: schools D
64WatongaBlaine County · 2,594 people44.2bottom 28.4%CStrongest: cost of living A+, schools B+·lowest: jobs & income D−
65MariettaLove County · 2,982 people43.9bottom 27.6%CStrongest: cost of living A, schools B·lowest: health D−
67CaleraBryan County · 3,145 people43.2bottom 25.9%CStrongest: schools B−, cost of living B−·lowest: walkability C−
69CatoosaRogers County · 7,471 people42.8bottom 25.1%CStrongest: cost of living B+, jobs & income B−·lowest: health C−
71ChecotahMcIntosh County · 3,096 people42.7bottom 24.7%C−Strongest: schools A−, walkability B+·lowest: health D−
73HoldenvilleHughes County · 5,923 people42.4bottom 24.1%C−Strongest: cost of living A, schools B+·lowest: jobs & income D−
74WagonerWagoner County · 8,405 people42.2bottom 23.6%C−Strongest: cost of living A−, schools B−·lowest: health C−
76BlackwellKay County · 6,029 people41.9bottom 23.0%C−Strongest: cost of living A, walkability B+·lowest: health D
77PerkinsPayne County · 3,271 people41.8bottom 23.0%C−Strongest: schools B+, walkability B+·lowest: jobs & income D
78TishomingoJohnston County · 3,123 people41.5bottom 22.2%C−Strongest: cost of living A−, walkability B+·lowest: health D−
80MadillMarshall County · 4,181 people41.5bottom 22.1%C−Strongest: cost of living A−, walkability B+·lowest: health D−
81SlaughtervilleCleveland County · 4,332 people41.1bottom 21.4%C−Strongest: cost of living A−, schools B·lowest: walkability D−
82PawhuskaOsage County · 2,923 people40.9bottom 20.8%C−Strongest: cost of living A+, walkability B+·lowest: health D
83Pauls ValleyGarvin County · 6,157 people40.8bottom 20.6%C−Strongest: cost of living A−, schools B+·lowest: hazard risk D
84RolandSequoyah County · 4,146 people40.5bottom 20.1%C−Strongest: cost of living B+, walkability B−·lowest: health D−
85Longtownunincorporated, Pittsburg County · 2,716 people40.4bottom 19.8%C−Strongest: cost of living A−, schools B·lowest: jobs & income D
86Park Hillunincorporated, Cherokee County · 3,237 people40.1bottom 19.2%C−Strongest: schools A−, cost of living B·lowest: jobs & income D
89DrumrightCreek County · 2,546 people39.2bottom 17.5%C−Strongest: cost of living A+, walkability B·lowest: health D
92AtokaAtoka County · 2,975 people38.7bottom 16.3%C−Strongest: walkability A, cost of living A−·lowest: safety D−
94HeavenerLe Flore County · 3,070 people38.4bottom 15.9%C−Strongest: cost of living A, safety B−·lowest: jobs & income D−
95SpencerOklahoma County · 3,857 people38.3bottom 15.7%C−Strongest: cost of living A, walkability B·lowest: schools D
96MuldrowSequoyah County · 3,375 people37.9bottom 15.0%C−Strongest: cost of living A, schools A−·lowest: health D−
97TecumsehPottawatomie County · 6,402 people37.1bottom 13.6%DStrongest: cost of living A, schools C+·lowest: health D
98SallisawSequoyah County · 8,790 people36.6bottom 12.8%DStrongest: walkability A, cost of living B+·lowest: health D−
99StiglerHaskell County · 2,749 people36.2bottom 12.3%DStrongest: walkability B+, schools B·lowest: jobs & income D−
101PoteauLe Flore County · 9,171 people35.9bottom 11.8%DStrongest: schools A−, walkability B+·lowest: health D
102HenryettaOkmulgee County · 5,620 people35.8bottom 11.7%DStrongest: cost of living A+, walkability B−·lowest: health D−
103GroveDelaware County · 7,399 people35.7bottom 11.5%DStrongest: schools B, walkability B−·lowest: hazard risk C−
107IdabelMcCurtain County · 6,934 people34.9bottom 10.5%DStrongest: cost of living B+, walkability B·lowest: health D−
109HominyOsage County · 3,293 people34.6bottom 10.1%DStrongest: cost of living A+, walkability B+·lowest: jobs & income D−
110AnadarkoCaddo County · 5,448 people34.2bottom 9.7%DStrongest: cost of living A, walkability A−·lowest: health D−
111NowataNowata County · 3,584 people33.7bottom 9.0%DStrongest: cost of living A, walkability B−·lowest: health D−
112SeminoleSeminole County · 7,393 people33.3bottom 8.5%DStrongest: walkability B+, cost of living B+·lowest: health D−
113HobartKiowa County · 3,257 people33.2bottom 8.3%DStrongest: cost of living B, schools B·lowest: jobs & income D−
114DeweyWashington County · 3,450 people32.9bottom 8.1%DStrongest: cost of living B, schools B−·lowest: health D−
115HugoChoctaw County · 5,082 people32.8bottom 7.8%DStrongest: walkability A−, cost of living B+·lowest: health D−
116EufaulaMcIntosh County · 2,882 people32.2bottom 7.1%DStrongest: walkability B+, schools B+·lowest: health D−
118VinitaCraig County · 5,424 people31.8bottom 6.6%DStrongest: cost of living A−, schools C+·lowest: health D−
119JayDelaware County · 2,507 people31.7bottom 6.5%DStrongest: walkability A, cost of living A−·lowest: health D−
120OkemahOkfuskee County · 3,091 people31.5bottom 6.4%DStrongest: walkability A−, cost of living A−·lowest: health D−
122Pryor CreekMayes County · 9,723 people30.8bottom 5.6%DStrongest: walkability B+, cost of living B−·lowest: health D
123StilwellAdair County · 3,892 people30.6bottom 5.5%DStrongest: walkability A−, cost of living A−·lowest: health D−
124WewokaSeminole County · 3,046 people30.5bottom 5.4%DStrongest: walkability A−, cost of living B+·lowest: health D−
125Broken BowMcCurtain County · 4,211 people30.3bottom 5.2%DStrongest: cost of living A−, schools C+·lowest: health D−
126DavisMurray County · 2,836 people30.0bottom 4.8%D−Strongest: cost of living A, walkability B·lowest: schools D−
129Turleyunincorporated, Tulsa County · 2,968 people28.2bottom 3.4%D−Strongest: cost of living B+, walkability C+·lowest: health D−
Method
How this list is made
Each town’s overall grade blends seven livability grades: cost of living (weight 18), safety (18), schools (16), health (14), jobs & income (12), walkability (8) and hazard risk (4). A town needs 2,500+ residents and three of the first four. Letters are national, so an A here means the same as an A in any state; the list is the same towns in the same order, ranked within Oklahoma. Towns without their own FBI figures are graded on the rest and their page says why.
Data years: crime 2023–2025 (FBI), Census ACS 2020–2024, CDC PLACES 2025, state school tests. How grades work
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the best small town in Oklahoma?
Among 85 graded towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents, Piedmont (Canadian County) ranks first, with an A; safety (A+) and schools (A) are its strongest grades; walkability (D) is its lowest. Verdigris and Tuttle follow.
How are these towns ranked?
By the overall grade, which blends seven livability grades from public data. The letter is national; the rank is within Oklahoma. The full method is on How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500 to 9,999 residents with an overall grade (85 in Oklahoma). 98 smaller places have subject grades only; Larger towns are on the best places to live list. Every town is on the Oklahoma page.
Go deeper
All Oklahoma rankings →More Oklahoma lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live131 towns · #1 PiedmontMost affordable towns131 towns · #1 FairviewSafest towns124 towns · #1 ElginTowns with the best schools130 towns · #1 BlanchardHealthiest towns131 towns · #1 Nichols HillsBest towns for jobs & income131 towns · #1 Nichols HillsMost walkable towns131 towns · #1 AlvaTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk131 towns · #1 GuymonBest towns for the outdoors131 towns · #1 WatongaMost historic towns131 towns · #1 TulsaTowns with the most civic life128 towns · #1 TishomingoTowns with the least snow123 towns · #1 FrederickDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns123 towns · #1 WoodwardDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters133 towns · #1 CaleraDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers133 towns · #1 FrederickDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers133 towns · #1 StilwellDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes131 towns · #1 Nichols HillsDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes131 towns · #1 WewokaDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns127 towns · #1 NewcastleDescribed, no lettersTowns with the most-used libraries60 towns · #1 KingfisherDescribed, no letters
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