Norman is an excellent community in which to study, work, and live. It is the 3rd largest city in Oklahoma, with just over 100,000 people, located in the center of the state, about 20 miles south of Oklahoma City (the largest city) and about 180 miles north of Dallas.
Money Magazine has ranked Norman 6th on its Best Places to Live list of small American cities. Businessweek.com/Bloomberg Rankings has ranked our county (Cleveland) as 3rd best in the country among affordable places to live. Nerdwallet has ranked Norman #1 in the U.S. among least expensive cities to raise a child. Norman was ranked the second least expensive city to live in the U.S. by the Cost of Living Index. The quality of life in Norman is high and the cost of living is low. The Campus Corner area near the university provides an eclectic mix of restaurants, shops, and nightclubs. In addition to the museums and recreational events at the University of Oklahoma, the city of Norman features diverse music and arts, such as Jazz in June, the Summer Breeze and Winter Wind concert series, the Norman Music Festival, Groovefest, the Medieval Fair, the Norman Pride Festival, and the historic Sooner Theatre. There are many parks within Norman, including Lake Thunderbird State Park, which offers fishing, boating, hiking, and biking. Norman Public Schools are excellent and include Blue Ribbon award-winning schools at the elementary and secondary school levels.