Cache offers access to military jobs, top-rated schools
Cache is a southwest Oklahoma bedroom community about 15 miles outside of Lawton. Homeowners are attracted to its rural-suburban setting and proximity to Fort Sill, an Army base that is the largest employer in Comanche County. This community of about 3,200 also offers access to quality education and outdoor recreation. “Cache is known as the Gateway to the Wichita Mountains,” says Jeannine Mitchell, a longtime resident who recently retired from real estate and moved to Florida. “Schools are a big draw, and Lawton is a big military town.”
Residential community an appealing destination for military retirees
“About 50 percent of my sales were military related,” Mitchell says. “A lot of people come here to retire at Fort Sill, because the cost of living is so low.” Residential settings are a mix of older homes on quiet neighborhood streets near the center of town, homes featuring midcentury designs on spacious lots on the outskirts of the community, and newer contemporary homes in subdivision settings. Traditional-style homes and mid-sized ranches anchor the community’s older offerings. Contemporary homes come standard with driveways and attached garages and offer the convenience of smaller yards.
Only a handful of homes have been sold in the past year, so information on price ranges is limited. The median sales price is $250,000. Plenty of new construction is on the horizon, as scores of lots are selling for Pradera Village, a new home community on the south side of town within walking distance of the community’s schools. Residents can expect humid summers and windy winters. Oklahoma is known for its severe weather, but Lawton hasn’t been hit by a major tornado since 1979.
It pays to attend highly rated Cache Public Schools
Cache Public Schools is rated A-minus by Niche. “When we moved here, we decided to be in the Cache school district, and my youngest son just graduated,” Mitchell says. “We lived in Cache for 22 years, and it was a good decision.” The elementary, middle and high school levels are rated A-minus, A and B-plus, respectively. Those three levels comprise five separate buildings on a single, sprawling campus: Cache Primary Elementary, which serves students in pre-kindergarten through first grade; Cache Intermediate Elementary (2-4); Cache 5th & 6th Grade Center; Cache Middle School (7-8); and Cache High School (9-12). “School is the main business in Cache,” Mitchell says. “A lot of military, but also a lot of people who work in the schools.” The high school offers state-of-the-art facilities for academics and athletics. Oklahoma offers the opportunity to transfer out of district, but acceptance is dependent upon the receiving district and can be affected by several factors, including enrollment limits.
Wichita Mountains provide an array of outdoor recreation
The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge is just outside the community, and the town of Medicine Park is a popular attraction nearby. “You have to go through the preserve to get to Medicine Park,” Mitchell says. “There’s buffalo and longhorn, and you have to wait for them to cross the road. Medicine Park has a lot of festivals, live music and all kinds of activities.” The refuge boasts roughly 60,000 acres of trails and waterways that cater to outdoors enthusiasts. Mountain streams feed Lake Lawtonka, which offers an array of water-related activities that include swimming, skiing, boating and fishing. Cache City Park is the main recreational space within the community. Golfers have access to courses in Lawton. Adults can try their luck at Comanche Cache Casino.
Residents can shop, dine in town, but find more options in Lawton
Homestyle favorites and fast food are common among the community’s dining options. Residents can shop at a dollar store and a handful of boutique stores without leaving the community. More shopping options, including big-box stores and retail centers, are available in Lawton.
Convenient access to Lawton, Fort Sill
U.S. Route 62 provides direct travel into Lawton. Fort Sill is within 20 minutes, and downtown is within 25. Lawton is home to Comanche County Memorial Hospital and Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport. It is also the county seat. Route 62 connects to Interstate 44 in Lawton. I-44 provides access to Oklahoma City, about a 100-mile drive from Cache.
Written By
Matt Pallister
