Norman, OK Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Norman, OK: What You Need to Know

Norman is the third-largest city (population: 124,880) in Oklahoma behind Oklahoma City and Tulsa. It’s home to the University of Oklahoma, known for its juggernaut football team that has won seven national championships.

Weather & Climate

Norman and the entire Oklahoma City metropolitan area are among the most tornado-prone places in America. The area is located right at the heart of Tornado Alley. Five twisters hit the area within 24 hours in June 1974, May 2013, and October 2018 – the record for the most tornadoes in a single day. 

Schools & Higher Education

The University of Oklahoma (28,564 students) is the largest university in the state, and the most well-known among the 20 institutions of higher education within 50 miles of the city. The Norman Public School District’s 24 schools boast of an average math proficiency score of 38% versus the Oklahoma average of 31%, and a reading proficiency score of 42% compared with the 35% statewide average. The school district serves 15,849 students.

Things to Do in Norman

A visit to Norman is not complete without a stop at the University of Oklahoma’s Fred Jones Jr. Museum, one of the finest in the country. Its collection features about 17,000 items, including French Impressionist works by Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh. The museum also showcases works by Georgia O'Keeffe, Ansel Adams, Paul Gauguin, Edgar Degas, Edward Hopper, and Oklahoma natives Olinka Hrdy, Allan Houser, and Leon Polk Smith. The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is another popular destination in Norman. It features a wide range of exhibits in archaeology, Native American studies, paleontology, and ornithology displayed in more than 50,000 square feet of space.

Cost of Living

Affordability makes Norman stand out among comparable cities, with a cost of living that’s 7.5% lower than the national average and median gross rent at $876. Food and housing costs are equally inexpensive – 11.3% and 19% lower than the national average respectively. Oklahoma residents pay a progressive income tax rate of 0.5% to 5% and 4.5% to 11.5% in sales tax.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Norman, the seat of Cleveland County, is a vibrant college town and a suburb of Oklahoma City. Residents rave about its amenities, nightlife, and year-round events. A big segment of city residents (47%) are renters. Norman has some of the highest-ranked schools in the state, but if you’re looking for other suburbs with excellent schools, check out Moore and Noble.