Moving from Fresno, CA to Broken Arrow, OK

Cross-country relocations like Fresno, CA β†’ Broken Arrow, OK cover 1570 mi and about 27h 16m of driving through 5 states. Expect a multi-day trip and a meaningful change in climate, cost-of-living, and job market. The sections below compare each data layer directly from BEA, Census, Zillow, BLS, and NOAA.

1570 mi Β· 27h 16m by car Β· CA β†’ AZ β†’ NM β†’ TX β†’ OK

COL -12.7% Home values -26.7% Ξ” -5.0Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
1570 mi
Drive time
27h 16m
States
5
Fuel (25 mpg)
63 gal
Route throughCA β†’ AZ β†’ NM β†’ TX β†’ OK
Primary highwaysI 40, CA 99, I 44
Major cities en routeClovis, Visalia, Bakersfield, Lancaster, Palmdale

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

FresnoBroken ArrowU.S. avg
All items (RPP)102.15889.214100.0
Rents161.0173.856100.0
Goods105.16893.778100.0
Services95.72568.235100.0

Overall prices in Broken Arrow are 12.7% below Fresno β€” a mid-sized gap that shows up mostly in rent and services.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Fresno β€” typical home
$391,328
Broken Arrow β€” typical home
$286,846
Fresno β€” typical rent
$1,900/mo
Broken Arrow β€” typical rent
$1,676/mo

Housing gap is large: Broken Arrow typical home at $286,846 is 12.7% under Fresno at $391,328 (Zillow, 2026-03).

YoY change: Fresno +0.1%, Broken Arrow +2.1%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsFresnoBroken Arrow
Annual avg temperature65Β°F60Β°F
January avg low41Β°F26Β°F
July avg high98Β°F94Β°F
Annual snowfall0.0"β€”
Annual precipitation11.0"β€”

Climate cools by 5.0Β°F on the annual average β€” 65.0Β°F β†’ 60.0Β°F.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: FRESNO YOSEMITE INTL AP, CA US, BIXBY, OK US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023FresnoBroken Arrow
Population543,615115,919
Median household income$66,804$85,220
Median age32.437
Bachelor's degree or higher16.7%24.5%
Avg household size3.032.66

Income gap is large: median household income climbs 12.7% between Fresno and Broken Arrow (ACS 2023).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Fresno MSA β€” median wage
$44,530
Broken Arrow MSA β€” median wage
$43,140
Fresno MSA β€” employment
408,820
Broken Arrow MSA β€” employment
443,020

Top occupations in Broken Arrow MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 57,490 $39,200
Sales and Related Occupations 42,230 $33,990
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 42,030 $26,730
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 40,710 $36,500
Production Occupations 33,610 $44,720

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between California and Oklahoma

California income tax
13.3% top marginal
Oklahoma income tax
4.75% top marginal

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Oklahoma's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation β€” state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.
  • I-17 and I-40 through the Flagstaff area can see winter closures; the rest of Arizona is generally clear year-round.
  • Raton Pass (I-25 at the Colorado line) can close in winter storms.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Air conditioning matters: July highs in Broken Arrow average 94Β°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
  • Tornado season peaks April through June β€” identify a safe room or interior space in the new home on day one.
  • Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
  • Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
  • Register to vote in Oklahoma after establishing residency.

Frequently asked

When is the best time to move from Fresno to Broken Arrow?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 1570 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How far is Broken Arrow, OK from Fresno, CA?

The driving distance is 1570 mi and the route typically takes 27h 16m via I 40 and CA 99. The trip crosses 5 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

How much do homes cost in Broken Arrow compared to Fresno?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $286,846 in Broken Arrow vs $391,328 in Fresno β€” a 26.7% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

Is Broken Arrow more expensive than Fresno?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Broken Arrow is 12.7% lower than Fresno (89.214 vs 102.158, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

How does the job market in Broken Arrow compare to Fresno?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $43,140 in the Broken Arrow MSA vs $44,530 in the Fresno MSA, on total employment of 443,020 and 408,820 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

How does household income compare in Fresno vs Broken Arrow?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $85,220 in Broken Arrow vs $66,804 in Fresno β€” a 27.6% higher figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Fresno.

City profiles: Fresno, CA Β· Broken Arrow, OK.

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