Oklahoma City Apartments and Rentals

Oklahoma City apartments for rent put people in the heart of the state of Oklahoma. The large city is home to nearly 592,000 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau as of July 2011. This bustling city is well-known for providing a thriving urban scene with strong notes of Western charm. Oklahoma City takes pride in having a firm grasp on its Western heritage, while simultaneously redefining itself to create an atmosphere where culture and commerce can thrive.

Oklahoma City boasts being "born" in a day. When central Oklahoma was officially opened up for settlement in 1889, the city grew from 0 to 10,000 people in the course of a single day. Today, Oklahoma City is the largest city in Oklahoma and the 29th largest in the country.

Oklahoma City was founded on April 22, 1889, and its 621 square miles make it of the largest in the country according to land area. Oklahoma City apartments can be found in a variety of neighborhoods, from the six Historic Preservation districts, to new housing developments. According to the city's website, while the city is large geographically, most homes are within a 15-minute drive from downtown Oklahoma City.

The downtown area has been restored and transformed at the hands of a redevelopment plan known as Metropolitan Area Projects, according to the city of Oklahoma City. Another recent transformation to the area includes an ongoing adaptation to the North Canadian River and surrounding areas. The river has been redeveloped into a series of river lakes that stretch for seven miles, with three dams controlling the water level. The $51.8 million project includes a Bricktown Canal to connect to the river upon completion.

Historically, oil was the main player in the Oklahoma City economy. Today, the city has diversified its business sector with agriculture, energy, aviation, government, healthcare, manufacturing and industry all playing major roles in the well-being of Oklahoma City's economy, according to City-Data. Oklahoma City apartments are attractive options for business professionals working in the city, and the source additionally revealed that 20 percent of the non-agricultural employment for the Oklahoma City metro comes from the government sector.

Oklahoma City has a number of higher education facilities for the student population to take advantage of, including the Oklahoma City Community College, which enrolls more than 12,500 students. Other notable nearby schools include the University of Oklahoma Norman campus and the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.

According to information collected by the U.S. Census Bureau, Oklahoma City rentals have a vacancy rate of 9.6 percent and the median gross rent was valued at $669 as of 2010. More than 42 percent of all renters fall in the gross rent range of $500 to $749, with more than 81 percent of total renters falling in the slightly wider range of $300 to $999. Roughly 40 percent of all renters report spending 35 percent or more of household income on gross rental costs.

City-Data information revealed that the cost of living in Oklahoma City in March 2012 was 86.5, which is 13.5 points less than the national average of 100. This means that it is 13.5 percent less expensive to live in Oklahoma City than the rest of the country on average.

One of the most popular area attractions is the Oklahoma City region of Bricktown, located in downtown Oklahoma City. This hotspot is where locals go to experience a vibrant nightlife scene, dining and entertainment. Another popular activity in Bricktown is taking leisurely strolls along the Bricktown Canal after seeing an Oklahoma City Thunder basketball game a block away at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.

An attraction that's at the doorsteps to those living in Oklahoma City apartments is the historic commercial district of Stockyards City. Stockyards City is located minutes away from the downtown area and visitors to this district will find the largest live cattle auction in the world and get to see real life cowboys at work.

To find your next rental apartment or house in Oklahoma City, take a look at our listings on Rent.com®.