Oklahoma City suburb with rural roots
Founded as a poultry farming community in the 1920s, Nicoma Park lives by the slogan “we’ve got something to bawk about." Only 13 miles east of downtown Oklahoma City on US-62, the community of more than 2,600 has maintained its semi-rural identity while developing a great school system and adapting to modern conveniences. “It really was a bunch of chicken farms, says Jim Miller, a real estate agent with Keller Williams-Yukon. "As the farms stopped production they started selling the lots for houses,” The community developed around its agricultural beginnings, slowly building into a laid-back suburb with the infrastructure to back it.
“Barndominiums” and ranch-style builds
Homes in Nicoma Park run between $200,000 and $400,000, with most homes falling around $250,000. The majority of the homes are older ranch-style houses built in the 1950s and 1960s on 1 to 2-acre lots. But new construction is starting to take shape. “An interesting thing about Nicoma Park is that all the homes have to have a water well. There’s no public water because it’s currently a more rural area,” says April Peterson, a real estate agent with Chamberlain Realty. “But with some new builders coming in, it’s becoming less rural.” With new construction, homebuyers are beginning to have more housing stock to choose from, including metal barn conversions known as "barndominiums." “More barndominiums are popping up every day in Nicoma Park,” according to Peterson. “They’re faster to build than wood structures, but not necessarily cheaper, and people are in love with them.”
Choctaw Public Schools
“The advantage to Nicoma Park is that its more affordable than some of the other surrounding areas but their school district is tied into Choctaw and Choctaw has grown to be a very desirable high school,” Miller adds. Students in pre-K through grade 2 begin at Nicoma Park Elementary School, moving on to Nicoma Park Intermediate Elementary for grades 3-5, and Nicoma Park Middle School, all rated a B-plus on Niche. before finishing off at Choctaw High School, rated a B-minus. Choctaw High is known for excelling through its music and drama programs, winning state and national awards.
Neighborhood dining
All American Dixie Diner serves classic diner food, including all-day breakfast. For a quick bite on the go, family-owned Dawg Pound Coney Shack serves up juicy beef frankfurters. For basic shopping needs, there are two Walmart locations within 3 miles.
Outdoor fun
At Choctaw Creek Park visitors can take in the hiking and equestrian trails or try to reel in the big one at the pond. For golf aficionados, the Choctaw Creek Golf Course is only 2 miles away.
