Edmond surpasses 100,000 residents as Oklahoma sees broad-based population growth
admin / July 2026
Suburbs and outer-ring communities capture outsized gains, supported by housing demand and new retail supply
Oklahoma continues to register steady in-migration from both neighboring and more distant states, with affordability pressures in markets such as Texas prompting households to seek lower-cost alternatives. This pattern has supported population growth across a diverse set of communities, ranging from established urban centers to fast-growing suburban submarkets.
One of the most notable developments has emerged in Edmond, which surpassed 100,000 residents in 2025 for the first time in its history. The milestone positions Edmond among the largest cities in the state, with only four municipalities reporting higher population totals. The achievement underscores the city’s sustained appeal as both a residential destination and a component of the broader Oklahoma City metropolitan area.
Oklahoma City has recorded the largest absolute population gains in recent years, adding more than 38,900 net new residents between 2020 and 2025. That is more than the combined growth of the next five largest markets in the state. That expansion reflects continued demand for housing and employment access in the urban core, even as many households ultimately settle in surrounding suburbs.
Among peer cities, Broken Arrow stands out as the only market besides Oklahoma City to surpass Edmond in total population growth during the same period, adding approximately 11,400 residents. While smaller in absolute scale, these gains highlight the breadth of growth across multiple regions within the state.
Beyond major cities, suburban communities on the periphery of established metropolitan areas have captured some of the fastest growth rates. Bixby, located within the Tulsa area, exemplifies this trend, with population increases supported by strong school districts and a perceived high quality of life. Similar dynamics are evident in communities surrounding Oklahoma City, particularly within Canadian County.
Cities such as El Reno, Mustang and Yukon have posted population increases exceeding 15% since 2020, positioning the county as a key beneficiary of recent migration patterns. The scale and speed of these gains have begun to reshape local development pipelines, particularly within retail and residential sectors.
Commercial real estate activity in Canadian County has accelerated in response to population growth. Over the past several years, more than 850,000 square feet of retail and shopping center space has been delivered. Recent projects include The Stacks in Yukon, a 50,000-square-foot development completed in 2024, which has attracted a range of tenants, including Pei Wei occupying 3,200 square feet.
Additional supply is already being considered. More than 250,000 square feet of retail space has been proposed, including projects such as Mustang Marketplace near Highway 152 in the southern portion of the county. These developments reflect confidence in continued household formation and consumer demand in suburban markets.
Multifamily development has risen over the past cycle, though below the pace at which many other Sun Belt markets have grown. Since 2020, multifamily inventory has risen 10.7% in Oklahoma City, while Tulsa has expanded its inventory by 9.7%, below the national average of 18.4%.
Most new developments are found in outlying cities, mirroring population gains in rural and exurban areas. Since 2020, growth is most pronounced in Yukon at 40%, and Edmond at 33% in Oklahoma City, while Jenks registers 43% and Owasso at 37%, were growth leaders in Tulsa. Local contacts within property management say they continue to face competitive pressure from single-family developers, underscoring the relative attainability
Looking ahead, the interplay between affordability-driven migration, suburban growth and evolving development patterns is expected to remain a defining feature of Oklahoma’s real estate landscape. Continued inflows from higher-cost states, combined with expanding retail and residential pipelines, suggest that both primary cities and their surrounding communities are likely to see sustained momentum in the near term.
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