Tulsa Retirement Communities

Choosing Tulsa for assisted living options is a smart choice. The city was recently named #6 on Forbes magazine's "most livable cities" list for its quality of life. To arrive at that quality of life rating, researchers looked at cost of living, the crime rate, the economy, and the leisure index. Each of these factors can make retirement in Tulsa more enjoyable for seniors. Let's look at each factor a little more closely.

Compared to the rest of the country, Tulsa's cost of living is 15% below the average. Add in a low state and local tax burden of just 8.7% and this city becomes very livable for the average senior. For income taxes, you may claim up to $10,000 of your retirement benefits. And while there is no inheritance tax, there is an estate tax that is .5% to 10% of the net estate. Assisted living facilities in the Tulsa area start at $2,000 a month and go up depending on amenities and location. The average rate for a one-bedroom in Tulsa is $3,161, according to a recent national survey by Genworth Financial. The average rate for a private nursing home is $155 a day.

If you're not sure where to live in Tulsa, here are a few suggestions. In the northern part of the city you'll find the Tulsa International Airport, the Tulsa Zoo, OSU-Tulsa and Mohawk Park, one of the largest city parks in the country. Midtown Tulsa is the city's historic district. Here you'll find upscale shopping at Utica Square, the Philbrook Museum and the University of Tulsa. Other attractions around the city include the Gilcrease Museum with works by Frederic Remington, Charles Russell and Thomas Moran. And the casinos run by the Creek and Cherokee Nations.

Active retirees will enjoy Tulsa's 140 parks covering 6,000 acres. Like downtown's Woodward Park which has more than 6,000 rose plants in 250 varieties. The River Parks system along the Arkansas River will take you along 10 miles of walking and cycling paths.

To begin your search for Tulsa assisted living facilities, use our advanced search feature to locate a specific kind of facility (independent living, nursing home, etc.). And to find out if a facility is licensed and to see individual inspection reports, go to Oklahoma's Protective Health Services.