Sample data. These scores are illustrative placeholders, not real measurements — live scores arrive when the data pipeline runs.
Where Oklahoma City lands on the scale
Every city is graded on the same 0–100 Fun Score, split into five bands from quiet to exceptional — here is where Oklahoma City sits.
Pro sports in Oklahoma City
The five major US leagues anchor a city’s sports identity — home stadiums, season-long event flow, drive-time fanbases. Oklahoma City hosts 1 major-league team across 1 league.
- NBA Oklahoma City Thunder
How the Fun Score adds up
The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Oklahoma City fun, minus 7 that wear it down. Here is the arithmetic.
16 things that lift the score, blended onto 0–100
7 things that wear it down, blended onto 0–100
- Fun factors lift it
- –
- Drawbacks pull it down
- –
- Raw composite
- –
- Fun Score placed on the published 0–100 scale
- –
Only 40% of the drawback total is subtracted — even a great city can carry a few flaws. Every factor below spells its contribution out as an equation — score times weight. Those 23 contributions are the building blocks behind the two totals above (each is rounded for display).
The Fun breakdown
Every factor is scored 0–100 against the other cities in the index.
Oklahoma City's strongest factors are Star Power, Unique Hangouts and Outdoors. Its heaviest drawbacks are Weather Extremes, Air Quality and Crime.
On every bar, the marker shows the typical city — the median score across the whole index.
What lifts the score
- Eats –
Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.
Measured from OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Drinks –
Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.
Measured from OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Coffee –
Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.
Measured from OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
-
Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.
-
Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.
Measured from SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended).
- Outdoors –
Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.
Measured from OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities.
- Culture –
Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.
Measured from OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
- Events –
Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events.
- Sports –
Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.
Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres.
-
Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.
Measured from OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.
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How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.
Measured from GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged).
- Climate –
How often the weather is good enough to get outside.
Measured from NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days.
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How well a person without a car can move around the city.
Measured from GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share.
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Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.
Measured from EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city).
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Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.
Measured from NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.
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Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.
Measured from OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog.
What weighs it down
- Crime –
Reported violent and property crime rates.
Measured from FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals.
- Traffic –
Congestion and the time lost to commuting.
Measured from US Census commute-time data (ACS).
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Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.
Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).
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Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.
Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.
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Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.
Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.
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Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate.
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What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.
Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services.
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Cities like Oklahoma City
The Oklahoma City read Free
A written read on Oklahoma City, grounded in the data
A plain-English analysis of why Oklahoma City scores the way it does — its standout strengths, where it falls short, who it suits best, and the cities most like it. Every figure is drawn from the same 23 factors on this page: it narrates the measured data, it never invents a number.
Oklahoma City, OK is a Quiet city with a Fun Score of 27, ranking 113th out of 134 cities nationally, and stands out for its strong showing in Star Power.
Why it scores high
Oklahoma City shines brightest in its Star Power, scoring 62 and tying for 51st nationally. This indicates a city with a notable presence of headliner performers and residents who have achieved recognition, suggesting a vibrant scene for celebrity sightings and high-profile events. For residents, this can translate to more opportunities to see well-known artists and personalities.
The city also offers a solid experience for sports enthusiasts, with Sports scoring 56, tying for 59th nationally. This suggests a healthy mix of professional and collegiate games, as well as accessible sports facilities and fitness centers. Whether you're a fan looking to catch a game or an active individual seeking recreational opportunities, Oklahoma City provides a good environment.
For those seeking distinctive leisure activities, Oklahoma City boasts a strong score in Unique Hangouts at 54, ranking 62nd nationally. This indicates a good selection of unconventional entertainment options like escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks, and karaoke venues, offering diverse ways to spend free time beyond traditional bars or restaurants.
Where it falls short
Oklahoma City faces challenges in its public transportation, with Transit Quality scoring a low 7, placing it 125th nationally. This suggests that residents might find public transit options limited or inefficient, making personal vehicles a necessity for getting around. Similarly, the city's Walkability score is 19, ranking 109th nationally, indicating that many areas are not easily navigable on foot.
The city also contends with environmental factors, particularly in Weather Extremes, which scores a low 14 and ties for 116th nationally. This suggests that residents frequently experience severe weather events, which can impact daily life and outdoor activities. Additionally, the Air Quality score of 36, ranking 86th nationally, indicates that the air quality could be better, potentially affecting outdoor comfort for some.
For those who enjoy a robust coffee scene, Oklahoma City might not be the ideal spot, as Coffee scores 18, ranking 110th nationally. This suggests a relatively limited number of cafes or a lower overall quality of coffee establishments compared to other cities. The Live Music scene also scores 20, tying for 107th nationally, indicating fewer options for live performances.
Who it's for
Oklahoma City is best suited for individuals who prioritize a strong local sports culture and unique entertainment options, and who are comfortable relying on personal transportation. It's a good fit for those who appreciate a city with a notable presence of public figures and a relatively affordable cost for going out, despite facing environmental challenges related to weather and air quality.
Cities like it
- Wichita, KS: Similar in its quiet atmosphere and focus on local amenities.
- Fort Worth, TX: Shares a comparable balance of urban offerings and a more relaxed pace.
- Tulsa, OK: As a neighboring city, it offers a similar regional feel and lifestyle.
Sources
- OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues
- SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)
- OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities
- OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events
- Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres
- OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
- GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)
- NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days
- GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share
- EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)
- NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data
- OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog
- FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals
- US Census commute-time data (ACS)
- EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)
- FEMA National Risk Index
- NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data
- Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate
- Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services
This narrative is generated by AI from CityFunIndex's measured data. The Fun Scores, ranks and raw values are computed deterministically; the wording around them is the model's. Verify any figure against the linked city page.
Go deeper
Use the data
Oklahoma City’s Fun Score and every factor score are available through the licensed CityFunIndex API — clean JSON, metered one call per city record, behind a paid key.
Cite this page
Paste-ready credit line for journalists, researchers and bloggers. Carries the score, the algorithm version and the canonical URL so readers can verify it themselves.
CityFunIndex Fun Score for Oklahoma City, OK: 25/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/oklahoma-city-ok
Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.