Moving from Houston, TX to Broken Arrow, OK

It is a 497 mi drive, roughly 9h 7m, between Houston, TX and Broken Arrow, OK. At mid-range distance you typically see real gaps open up on cost of living, home values, and climate β€” not just scenery. This page assembles the comparison from federal data sources and Zillow Research for a single-page view of the move.

497 mi Β· 9h 7m by car Β· TX β†’ OK

COL -9.5% Home values +8.5% Ξ” -10.6Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
497 mi
Drive time
9h 7m
States
2
Fuel (25 mpg)
20 gal
Route throughTX β†’ OK
Primary highwaysI 45, US 75, US 69
Major cities en routePearland, League City, Sugar Land, Pasadena, Mesquite

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

Cost of living

HoustonBroken ArrowU.S. avg
All items (RPP)98.62989.214100.0
Rents95.28873.856100.0
Goods100.63993.778100.0
Services104.5168.235100.0

Expect about 9.5% lower overall cost of living β€” BEA RPP 2024 has Broken Arrow at 89.214 vs Houston at 98.629.

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

Housing prices

Houston β€” typical home
$264,336
Broken Arrow β€” typical home
$286,846
Houston β€” typical rent
$1,541/mo
Broken Arrow β€” typical rent
$1,676/mo

Expect roughly 9.5% higher home prices per Zillow ZHVI (2026-03).

YoY change: Houston -2.9%, Broken Arrow +2.1%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsHoustonBroken Arrow
Annual avg temperature71Β°F60Β°F
January avg low44Β°F26Β°F
July avg high93Β°F94Β°F
Annual snowfall0.0"β€”
Annual precipitation54.1"β€”

Annual temperature drops 10.6Β°F moving to Broken Arrow per NOAA normals.

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: HOUSTON-PORT, TX US, BIXBY, OK US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023HoustonBroken Arrow
Population2,300,419115,919
Median household income$62,894$85,220
Median age34.337
Bachelor's degree or higher21.3%24.5%
Avg household size2.512.66

Broken Arrow households earn about 9.5% more than Houston at the median β€” $62,894 β†’ $85,220 on ACS 2023.

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

Jobs & wages

Houston MSA β€” median wage
$46,960
Broken Arrow MSA β€” median wage
$43,140
Houston MSA β€” employment
3,179,460
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 Texas and Oklahoma

Texas income tax
no state income tax
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.

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.
  • You are moving to a noticeably colder climate (10.6Β°F lower annual average). Thermal layers, insulated boots, and a heavier winter coat should ride in the car, not the truck.
  • 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

How does household income compare in Houston vs Broken Arrow?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $85,220 in Broken Arrow vs $62,894 in Houston β€” a 35.5% higher figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

Is Broken Arrow more expensive than Houston?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Broken Arrow is 9.5% lower than Houston (89.214 vs 98.629, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

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

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $286,846 in Broken Arrow vs $264,336 in Houston β€” a 8.5% higher figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

When is the best time to move from Houston 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 497 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

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

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $43,140 in the Broken Arrow MSA vs $46,960 in the Houston MSA, on total employment of 443,020 and 3,179,460 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

How far is Broken Arrow, OK from Houston, TX?

The driving distance is 497 mi and the route typically takes 9h 7m via I 45 and US 75. The trip crosses 2 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Plan the move

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

City profiles: Houston, TX Β· Broken Arrow, OK.

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