Norman

About Norman

Norman is a large, thriving city in the Oklahoma City metro area, host to the National Weather Center’s major operations center. It is among the largest cities in the state and has been steadily growing since its founding. This vibrant community is a popular home base for young professionals, many of whom commute to Oklahoma City on a daily basis.

Living in Norman

Even though you could easily drive to Oklahoma City for shopping, dining and entertainment, you’ll likely find plenty to keep you busy within Norman city limits. Thanks to the presence of the University of Oklahoma, the city has a thriving arts and culture scene.

One of the highlights of the local art community is the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, which houses the largest French Impressionist collection of any American university. Another popular museum is the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, featuring exhibits of dinosaur fossils and Native American artifacts. At the University’s Catlett Music Center, you can attend any one of many cultural performances, including symphony, dance and theater.

The local events calendar is filled with numerous festivals and community celebrations, many of which feature local artists, musicians and performers. May Fair and Jazz in June are two popular summer events, while the Main Street Christmas Holiday Parade is a winter tradition.

Jobs in Norman

The Norman economy is fueled by several major powerhouses, creating a range of job opportunities that appeal to locals from many different professional backgrounds. The largest presence in the Norman economy is the University of Oklahoma, which provides more than 10,000 jobs in the area. It functions as an important research campus, funneling millions of dollars into scientific programs in Norman.

The National Weather Center is another major contributor to the local job market, drawing in a number of smaller, related businesses like Computational Geosciences Inc. and Weatherbank, Inc. Other science-based companies and organizations in Norman include the Oklahoma Geological Survey, SouthWest NanoTechnologies and the Oklahoma Renewable Energy Council.

Aside from jobs in science or education, you can also find a variety of options at the city’s many other major employers. SITEL, Office Max, AT&T, Sysco Corp. and the Norman Regional Health System all supply a significant number of jobs for Norman locals.

Norman Schools

The public schools of Norman fall into several different districts, the largest of which is Norman Public Schools. You can also find private school options for students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

Resources for Moving to Norman

If you’re planning a move to Norman, the following information will be useful:

• Utilities: Norman receives utilities services from Oklahoma Gas & Electric, the Oklahoma Electric Cooperative, Oklahoma Natural Gas and the city’s utilities department.
• Garbage and Recycling: The city facilitates trash collection through all residential areas of Norman. Most homes also receive recycling collection services.
• Transportation: Public transportation options include the Cleveland Area Rapid Transit and Amtrak.

Norman Housing

Norman has an extremely affordable housing market, with a median home price that’s well below the national average. Prices have been rising slowly but steadily, which is generally good news for a long-term investment. Whether you’re looking for something to buy or rent, you’ll have your choice of a variety of apartments, townhouses and single-family homes.