Quality of life comparison
If you lived in West Virginia instead of Oklahoma, you would:
Health
live 1.3 years less
In Oklahoma, the average life expectancy is 74 years (73 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2020. In West Virginia, that number is 73 years (72 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2020.
Economy
be 15.8% more likely to be unemployed
In Oklahoma, 3.8% of adults are unemployed as of 2025. In West Virginia, that number is 4.4% as of 2025.
be 13.2% more likely to live below the poverty line
In Oklahoma, 14.4% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In West Virginia, however, that number is 16.3% as of 2023.
Safety
be 34.6% less likely to be a victim of violent crime
Oklahoma has a violent crime rate of 407 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 266 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 43.3% less likely to be a victim of property crime
Oklahoma has a property crime rate of 2,112 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 1,198 per 100,000 as of 2023.
Housing & Income
pay 16.3% less for a home
The median home value in Oklahoma is $185,900 as of 2023, compared to $155,600 in West Virginia as of 2023.
pay 13.3% less in rent
The median monthly gross rent in Oklahoma is $980 as of 2023, while in West Virginia, it is $850 as of 2023.
be 12.9% more likely to own your home
In Oklahoma, 65.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 74.3% as of 2023.
Lifestyle
be 52.0% less likely to be uninsured
In Oklahoma, 12.7% of the population is without health insurance as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 6.1% as of 2023.
live among residents who are 5.8 years older on average
The median age in Oklahoma is 36.9 years as of 2023. In West Virginia, the median age is 42.7 years as of 2023.
be 13.2% less likely to be food insecure
In Oklahoma, 13.6% of the population is food insecure as of 2021. In West Virginia, that number is 11.8% as of 2021.
commute 4.2 minutes longer
The average one-way commute in Oklahoma takes 22.4 minutes as of 2023. In West Virginia, it takes 26.6 minutes as of 2023.
be 20.6% more likely to smoke
In Oklahoma, 17.5% of adults smoke as of 2022. In West Virginia, that number is 21.1% as of 2022.
live in an area that is 24.0% more densely populated
Oklahoma has a population density of 22.9 people per sq km as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 28.4 people per sq km as of 2023.
be 77.8% less likely to have a foreign-born neighbor
In Oklahoma, 3.6% of the population was born outside the US as of 2023. In West Virginia, that number is 0.8% as of 2023.
The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: Feeding America, OECD Regional Demography, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), FBI Uniform Crime Reporting.
