Norman, OK Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Norman, OK

Is Norman, OK safe to live in?

Yes — Norman earns an overall crime grade of B-, and its city-wide safety rating lands squarely in the Safe (B) category. What makes that figure especially meaningful is the neighborhood breakdown: of the 11 neighborhoods analyzed, 72.7% (8 neighborhoods) received an A grade and the remaining 27.3% (3 neighborhoods) received a B grade. That means 100% of Norman's analyzed neighborhoods fall into the safe A–B range — not a single neighborhood grades out at C, D, or F. Neighborhoods like Shadowlake (Grade A, median income $85,338) and Bishop Creek (Grade A, median income $73,247) sit at the very top of the safety spectrum, while even the relatively lower-rated areas such as Original Townsite (Grade B) and Old Silk Stocking (Grade B+) still represent safe environments by national standards.

What is the crime rate in Norman compared to other cities?

Norman's overall crime grade of B- reflects a city that outperforms many comparably sized U.S. college towns. With a population of 112,576 spread across a low-density footprint of just 267 residents per square mile, Norman avoids the crime-concentration patterns typical of denser urban cores. The neighborhood data reinforces this: 8 out of 11 neighborhoods (72.7%) earned an A grade, meaning the vast majority of the city's residential fabric sits in the lowest-crime tier. The three B-grade neighborhoods — Original Townsite, Old Silk Stocking, and Larsh/Miller — still represent above-average safety profiles. No neighborhood in Norman's analyzed dataset falls below a B, which is a strong indicator that the city's crime burden is both low and evenly distributed rather than concentrated in isolated high-crime pockets.

Which neighborhoods in Norman have the lowest crime rates?

The two top-rated neighborhoods are Shadowlake (Grade A) with a median household income of $85,338 and a small, tight-knit population of 146, and Bishop Creek (Grade A) with a median income of $73,247 and a population of 920. Just below them, six neighborhoods share an A- grade: Lions Park (pop. 836, income $50,434), First Courthouse (pop. 1,029, income $47,277), Sooner Park (pop. 150, income $53,055), University (pop. 1,424, income $47,582), Andrews Park (pop. 653, income $44,465), and Larsh/Miller (pop. 1,264, income $32,575). Notably, the University neighborhood achieving an A- grade is a positive signal for students and faculty living near the University of Oklahoma campus. Across all eight A-grade neighborhoods, median household incomes range from $32,575 to $85,338, showing that top safety ratings in Norman are not exclusive to the city's wealthiest areas.

Which areas of Norman have higher crime rates?

Even Norman's highest-crime areas grade out respectably. The neighborhoods with the relatively highest crime levels are Original Townsite (Grade B), Old Silk Stocking (Grade B+), and to a lesser extent Larsh/Miller, Andrews Park, and University (all Grade A-). Original Townsite, with a population of 958 and a median household income of $38,753, sits at the lower end of the income scale among analyzed neighborhoods, which correlates with its B grade. Old Silk Stocking (pop. 1,178, income $42,697) earns a B+, placing it just a step below the A-tier neighborhoods. It's worth emphasizing that a B or B+ grade still indicates a safe neighborhood — these areas are flagged as comparatively higher crime only within the context of a city where 72.7% of neighborhoods earn straight A grades.

Is Norman a good place to buy a home or rent?

From a safety and affordability standpoint, Norman presents a compelling case. The median home value is $183,827 and the median rent is $882 per month — both well below national averages — while the city's overall crime grade of B- and 100% A+B neighborhood safety rate mean buyers and renters aren't trading affordability for safety. The median household income of $58,111 supports reasonable housing cost-to-income ratios across most of Norman's neighborhoods. Prospective homebuyers prioritizing safety alongside value may want to focus on A-grade neighborhoods like Bishop Creek (income $73,247) or Lions Park (income $50,434), while renters on tighter budgets can find relatively safe options even in B-grade areas like Original Townsite. The city's unemployment rate of 5.5% and poverty rate of 16.9% are worth monitoring, but they have not translated into widespread high-crime neighborhoods given the current data.

How does the University of Oklahoma affect crime in Norman?

The University neighborhood — home to 1,424 residents and earning a strong Grade A- — suggests that the OU campus area maintains a safe environment despite the density and transience typical of college districts. The neighborhood's median household income of $47,582 is close to the city-wide median of $58,111, indicating a stable residential base alongside the student population. Citywide, Norman's low population density of 267 people per square mile helps prevent the crime clustering that can occur in more densely packed college towns. The fact that the University neighborhood grades out in the top tier (A-) alongside residential neighborhoods like First Courthouse and Sooner Park speaks to effective community safety in and around the OU area.