I have never really considered the middle of the US (nor the south for that matter), but B_ has some good things to say about Oklahoma (posted with permission).
...one of the cheaper places to live is in Oklahoma, where I've lived for many years. You can buy a good house on 5 acres in many places for under $100k, sometimes close to a larger city (OKC or Tulsa). The winters are relatively short and mild compared to New England winters, although it can get pretty hot in the summer. If you are willing to live in a mobile home, sometimes you can get a decent one with 5 acres for under 60K or even 50K.
In Oklahoma 4 wheel drive is rarely needed, property taxes are low, the level of general bureaucracy is low. Texas is good too, but property taxes there are the highest in the country.
I grew up in California, the weather here certainly isn't as good, but the everyday ease of living is just much better in Oklahoma. I also lived in rural Oregon a few years ago-- Oregon is extremely bureaucratic compared to Oklahoma and it's difficult to make money in much of Oregon...
ERE state = Oklahoma?
I can vouch for all B- has said in the post. I have a place in Grove, OK, right on Grand Lake. That is in the NE corner of OK.
Actually I live in NW AR. Both states are low cost areas, and Fort Smith, AR has been ranked one of five least expensive places to live in the US.
In NE OK, (it is called "green country") there are many nice lakes, like The Grand Lake of the Cherokees, and just a bit south are Kerr Lake and Tenkiller lake. For water sports, this is where it's at.
The people of this area are warm and friendly, helpful to each other, and quite nice to have as neighbors. In NE OK, we have a big bunch of Casinos run by the Cherokee tribes. These are getting pretty thick in number. I don't go in them, but if I wanted to I could find one just a few miles in several directions.
Housing and food are less than the national average in cost. You have high humidity in the summer months, but the winters are rather mild. Unless you go around OK City, Tulsa, Joplin MO, or Little Rock, AR, traffic is pretty calm. There is lots of good land for sale in lots of the area here. You could get a nice home and land for under 100K, or something even much cheaper than that if you want a fixer.
I highly recommend it!! If you want an easy life, come to this area.
Actually I live in NW AR. Both states are low cost areas, and Fort Smith, AR has been ranked one of five least expensive places to live in the US.
In NE OK, (it is called "green country") there are many nice lakes, like The Grand Lake of the Cherokees, and just a bit south are Kerr Lake and Tenkiller lake. For water sports, this is where it's at.
The people of this area are warm and friendly, helpful to each other, and quite nice to have as neighbors. In NE OK, we have a big bunch of Casinos run by the Cherokee tribes. These are getting pretty thick in number. I don't go in them, but if I wanted to I could find one just a few miles in several directions.
Housing and food are less than the national average in cost. You have high humidity in the summer months, but the winters are rather mild. Unless you go around OK City, Tulsa, Joplin MO, or Little Rock, AR, traffic is pretty calm. There is lots of good land for sale in lots of the area here. You could get a nice home and land for under 100K, or something even much cheaper than that if you want a fixer.
I highly recommend it!! If you want an easy life, come to this area.
@hickchick
OKC traffic is a bear on even the best time and day.
I have to laugh when I think of all the times they have tried to "improve" it.
I always avoid OKC entirely. I come into Edmond, go straight over to Piedmont, and down to Yukon. You avoid the whole mess at a cost of about 45 minutes, well worth it!!
I didn't get it on the "Big 8 days"?? Could you say more on that?
OKC traffic is a bear on even the best time and day.
I have to laugh when I think of all the times they have tried to "improve" it.
I always avoid OKC entirely. I come into Edmond, go straight over to Piedmont, and down to Yukon. You avoid the whole mess at a cost of about 45 minutes, well worth it!!
I didn't get it on the "Big 8 days"?? Could you say more on that?
The Big 8 Conference for college sports that turned into the Big 12, which now has only 10 teams.
I'm from Nebraska, so all I really associate with Oklahoma is "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly", Game of the Century, etc. Also, Oklahoma fans tend to be really obnoxious to Husker fans when we play there. Of course, just about everyone is obnoxious compared to a Husker fan.
I'm from Nebraska, so all I really associate with Oklahoma is "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly", Game of the Century, etc. Also, Oklahoma fans tend to be really obnoxious to Husker fans when we play there. Of course, just about everyone is obnoxious compared to a Husker fan.
NE OK is a bit hilly, as it is the western run up to the Ozark Mountain Ranges. As you travel further west of Tulsa, the land flattens out and by the time you get to TX, it is "rather" flat.
From the middle of the state, going east, it is average in hills and valleys.
Here in the Ozark Mountains, anything without some pretty hills and mountains is considered "flatland", and we refer to those living out of the area as "flatlanders" for whatever that is worth.
From the middle of the state, going east, it is average in hills and valleys.
Here in the Ozark Mountains, anything without some pretty hills and mountains is considered "flatland", and we refer to those living out of the area as "flatlanders" for whatever that is worth.