Top Neighborhoods
Stillwater's neighborhoods are a microcosm of our city's personality: college-town energy colliding with quiet family suburbs and a surprising amount of green space. Choosing the right pocket isn't just about budget—it's about matching your lifestyle to the daily realities of traffic, noise, and which coffee shop you'll call your office.
Quick Compare: Top Neighborhoods in Stillwater
| Neighborhood | Vibe | Rent Range | Best For | Walk Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Strip / OSU Area | College energy, bustling | $850-$1,200 | Students, nightlife seekers | ~65 |
| Downtown / Historic | Walkable, charming | $900-$1,400 | Young professionals, empty nesters | ~75 |
| Highland / Westwood | Family-centric, established | $1,100-$1,500 | Families with kids | ~35 |
| Sunrise / Skyline | Newer, suburban | $1,200-$1,600 | Growing families, commuters | ~30 |
| East Side / Country Club | Quiet, upscale | $1,000-$1,450 | Professionals, retirees | ~40 |
The Strip / OSU Area
Overview: This is the beating heart of Stillwater's college scene, centered along Washington Street and Campus Avenue. You're within walking distance of Boone Pickens Stadium and the constant buzz of student life.
The Numbers:
- 🏠 Rent: $850 - $1,200/mo (1BR) | $1,200 - $1,600/mo (2BR)
- 🏡 Buy: Median home $220k - $280k (mostly smaller homes, duplexes)
- 🚗 Commute: 8 min to downtown | 5 min to OSU campus
- 🚶 Walk Score: ~65 (Walkable to bars, restaurants, campus)
Local Intel: Parking is a nightmare during football season—seriously, consider a lease that includes a spot. The best hidden gem is Revolution Coffee on Hall of Fame Ave for early morning work sessions before the crowds hit. Avoid Washington Street between 4:45-5:30 PM on weekdays; it's a gridlock of students leaving campus.
Who Thrives Here: Undergrads, grad students, and young professionals who don't mind noise and want to walk to bars like The Eagle or Frisco's.
Pros & Cons:
- ✅ Unbeatable walkability to OSU events, dozens of restaurants, and nightlife
- ✅ Lowest rent prices in the city for true walkable living
- ❌ Constant noise from parties and stadium events—bring earplugs
- ❌ Crime is property-theft heavy (bike thefts, car break-ins) near bars and campus housing
Schools: Stillwater Public Schools—mostly average ratings. Sanger Elementary is solid, but high schoolers would attend Stillwater High, which is decent but crowded.
The Verdict: Move here if you're a student or under 28 and want the full college-town experience. Avoid if you need peace, quiet, or have young kids.
Downtown / Historic District
Overview: The revitalized core centered around Main Street and 7th Avenue, with beautiful early-1900s homes and new apartments in converted buildings. This is where Stillwater's "grown-up" life happens.
The Numbers:
- 🏠 Rent: $900 - $1,400/mo (1BR) | $1,400 - $1,900/mo (2BR)
- 🏡 Buy: Median home $280k - $380k (historic homes, townhomes)
- 🚗 Commute: 5 min to anywhere in town | 10 min to OSU
- 🚶 Walk Score: ~75 (Very walkable)
Local Intel: The Stillwater Community Center on 7th Ave has free events and a killer pool. Renaissance Coffee on Main Street is the unofficial office for remote workers—get there by 8:30 AM to snag a table. Traffic is light except during Pistons & Pints or Festival of Lights events, which shut down Main Street.
Who Thrives Here: Young professionals who work remotely or commute to Tulsa/OKC, empty nesters who want culture and walkability, and anyone who hates driving.
Pros & Cons:
- ✅ Best walkability in the city—grocery store, bars, parks, and coffee all on foot
- ✅ Strong community vibe with regular farmers markets and festivals
- ❌ Older housing stock means drafty windows and quirky layouts
- ❌ Street parking can be brutal during downtown events; some areas have occasional property crime near bars
Schools: Stillwater Public Schools—Skyline Elementary is above average. Middle and high school ratings are average.
The Verdict: Perfect for remote workers and young professionals who want a true neighborhood feel. Not ideal for families needing large yards or top-tier schools.
Highland / Westwood
Overview: Classic 1960s-80s suburbia west of downtown, centered around West 12th Street and Highland Avenue. Mature trees, sidewalks, and kids on bikes everywhere.
The Numbers:
- 🏠 Rent: $1,100 - $1,500/mo (1BR) | $1,500 - $1,900/mo (2BR)
- 🏡 Buy: Median home $280k - $350k
- 🚗 Commute: 12 min to downtown | 18 min to OSU | 15 min to Walmart Distribution Center
- 🚶 Walk Score: ~35 (Car-dependent)
Local Intel: Will Rogers Park on 12th St has an excellent playground and is where neighborhood kids meet after school. Coffee Slingers on 12th is the local hangout. Traffic is smooth except during Stillwater High School rush hours (7:30-8:00 AM, 2:45-3:15 PM) on 12th Street.
Who Thrives Here: Families with school-age kids, teachers, and healthcare workers who want a quiet, established neighborhood without paying for the newest builds.
Pros & Cons:
- ✅ Strong sense of community—neighbors actually know each other and look out for kids
- ✅ Larger lots and mature trees provide shade and privacy
- ❌ 1970s-era homes mean frequent HVAC and plumbing updates are needed
- ❌ Zero walkability; you'll drive for everything including groceries
Schools: Stillwater Public Schools—Highland Park Elementary is highly rated. Stillwater High School is average-to-good, with strong athletics.
The Verdict: Ideal for families prioritizing community and school connections over nightlife. Skip it if you want walkability or hate yard maintenance.
Sunrise / Skyline
Overview: The fastest-growing area in Stillwater, east of downtown along 6th Avenue. New subdivisions, big-box retail, and the city's newest schools.
The Numbers:
- 🏠 Rent: $1,200 - $1,600/mo (1BR) | $1,600 - $2,100/mo (2BR)
- 🏡 Buy: Median home $320k - $400k (mostly homes built after 2000)
- 🚗 Commute: 15 min to downtown | 20 min to OSU | 8 min to Walmart HQ
- 🚶 Walk Score: ~30 (Very car-dependent)
Local Intel: The Sunrise Marketplace has a HomeGoods and TJ Maxx that locals drive across town for. Skyline Park on 6th Ave has the newest playground equipment in the city. Rush hour traffic on 6th Avenue (4:30-5:30 PM) is brutal—use Country Club Road as a cut-through.
Who Thrives Here: Young families wanting new construction and top schools, and employees at Walmart's home office or the nearby industrial parks.
Pros & Cons:
- ✅ Newer homes with modern layouts and energy efficiency
- ✅ Top-rated schools and newer parks with modern equipment
- ❌ Cookie-cutter subdivisions with tiny lots and no mature trees
- ❌ No walkable amenities; you're driving to everything
Schools: Stillwater Public Schools—Sunrise Elementary and Skyline Elementary are both highly rated. Stillwater High is the main high school.
The Verdict: Move here for the schools and new construction. Avoid if you hate suburban sprawl or want a unique neighborhood character.
East Side / Country Club
Overview: The quietest part of Stillwater, east of Country Club Road near the Stillwater Country Club. Larger homes on bigger lots, with a more mature, established feel.
The Numbers:
- 🏠 Rent: $1,000 - $1,450/mo (1BR) | $1,450 - $1,850/mo (2BR)
- 🏡 Buy: Median home $300k - $420k
- 🚗 Commute: 18 min to downtown | 22 min to OSU | 12 min to Walmart HQ
- 🚶 Walk Score: ~40 (Car-dependent, but some walking to parks)
Local Intel: Country Club Park has tennis courts and is rarely crowded. The Stillwater Country Club is the social hub, but you don't need to be a member to enjoy the area. Boomer Lake Park is a 5-minute drive for walking trails. Traffic is virtually non-existent except during country club events.
Who Thrives Here: Retirees, established professionals, and anyone wanting quiet, space, and a slight upscale feel without luxury prices.
Pros & Cons:
- ✅ Largest lots in the city—most homes sit on 0.25+ acres
- ✅ Extremely low traffic and noise; very safe for evening walks
- ❌ Older demographic means fewer young families and nightlife options
- ❌ You'll drive 15+ minutes for any restaurant or shopping
Schools: Stillwater Public Schools—East Side Elementary is average. Schools are decent but not as highly rated as Sunrise area.
The Verdict: Perfect for retirees and professionals wanting peace and space. Not for young families wanting walkable parks or singles wanting nightlife.
Final Advice
For young professionals and remote workers, Downtown/Historic is unbeatable—walk to Renaissance Coffee and The Mule while avoiding the student chaos. Families should target Sunrise/Skyline for schools and new parks, or Highland/Westwood for community feel and established neighborhoods. Retirees and quiet-seekers will love the East Side/Country Club area's space and low traffic.
Traffic pattern reality: Stillwater is small enough that commute times are rarely over 20 minutes, but Washington Street during OSU class changes and 6th Avenue from 4:30-5:30 PM will test your patience. The counterintuitive pick? Highland/Westwood—it's often overlooked by newcomers drawn to new construction, but offers the best community-per-dollar ratio in the city.