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Cost of Living & Affordability: Stillwater, OK

Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for Stillwater, OK

Cap Rate
4.67%
Median Price
$235K
Rent/Mo
$1,320
1% Rule
0.56%
Fails

Housing Affordability

Stillwater's price-to-income ratio is 4.2x — homes cost 4.2 times the local median household income of $56,350. This is moderately affordable. A healthy portion of the workforce can still aspire to homeownership, but many find renting more practical — creating a solid tenant base of working professionals.

Rent vs Buy Analysis

A typical mortgage payment on a median-priced home in Stillwater (20% down at 7%) is approximately $1,563/mo for principal and interest alone — add taxes and insurance and the all-in payment reaches roughly $1,814. The median rent of $1,320/mo is significantly less than buying — this rent-vs-buy gap is one of the strongest indicators of sustainable rental demand. When renting is cheaper than buying, the renter pool stays deep and vacancy stays low.

Income & Employment

The median household income in Stillwater is $56,350, with a population of 50,000 growing at 0.9% per year. Stillwater is a smaller market. Research the local employment base carefully — smaller cities can be significantly impacted by a single employer's decisions. Moderate population growth indicates a stable economic foundation.

What This Means for Investors

Stillwater is affordable with moderate returns. Focus on volume — the low entry point lets you scale to multiple properties faster than in more expensive markets.

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How Stillwater Compares

Stillwater vs Oklahoma state average and national average across key investment metrics. Stillwater beats the national average but trails the Oklahoma average on cap rate.

Metric
Stillwater
Oklahoma Avg
National Avg
Cap Rate
4.67%
5.69%
3.81%
Median Price
$235K
$187K
$333K
Median Rent
$1,320
$1,185
$1,524
Property Tax
0.88%
0.88%
1.08%
Vacancy
5.8%
5.8%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
0.9%/yr
0.9%/yr
0.9%/yr

Nearby South Markets

City
Cap Rate
Price
Rent
Tax
Stillwater, OK
4.7%
$235K
$1,320
0.88%
Baton Rouge, LA
5.0%
$240K
$1,350
0.56%
Oklahoma City, OK
4.7%
$240K
$1,360
0.88%
Memphis, TN
4.3%
$240K
$1,420
1.48%
Norman, OK
4.8%
$240K
$1,360
0.86%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Stillwater affordable for renters?
Renters in Stillwater spend approximately 28% of median household income on rent. This is within the standard 30% affordability threshold, suggesting renters have room in their budgets. The median household income is $56,350, below the level needed for comfortable renting.
What is the price-to-income ratio in Stillwater?
Stillwater's price-to-income ratio is 4.2x, meaning homes cost 4.2 times the local median income. This is moderate — some residents can buy, many choose to rent.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Stillwater?
A mortgage payment (20% down, 7% rate) on the median $235K home is approximately $1,250/mo before taxes and insurance. Adding those costs brings it to roughly $1,501/mo. The median rent of $1,320/mo is less than the cost of buying — this parity means some renters could transition to buying.
How does Stillwater's cost of living compare to the national average?
Home prices in Stillwater ($235K) are 30% below the national average. Rents ($1,320/mo) are 13% below average. Property taxes (0.88%) are below the 1.08% national average.
Full Stillwater Analysis →Cap Rate CalculatorBRRRR Calculator

Explore Stillwater & Related Markets

More Stillwater Guides

Rental Property Investment GuideRent AnalysisProperty Tax GuideAppreciation & Growth ForecastNeighborhood Investment Guide

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