Southwestern

Nearly 9 miles directly south of downtown Oklahoma City, the second half of this neighborhood’s name is more accurate than it sounds. With the larger-than-life neon cowboy sign beckoning folks from around the city to the Winchester Drive-In less than a mile away off Western Avenue, and no less than seven taquerias within 2 miles of home, Southwestern is aptly named, indeed. Realtor Eric Avalos, with Metro First Realty of Edmond, says: “This part of the city, the southside and the southwest side, was historically home to a lot of real cowboys and ranchers, people who commuted to the meatpacking plants in Stockyards City. There might not be cattle drives through town anymore, but there are definitely aspects of these neighborhoods reminiscent of that culture.” Avalos notes that it’s exactly the culture-rich atmosphere that draws homebuyers here.

But Southwestern’s competitive home prices are almost as appealing as the neighborhood’s location. These Traditional, ranch and Split Level-style homes, built in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s, range in price between $125,000 and $200,000. That’s well below the median for the wider metro, which hovers closer to the low $300,000 mark. For a three-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch-style home, clad in a mix of red brick and wood siding, with an attached, two-car garage and a kitchen recently updated with stainless steel appliances and stone counters, you can expect to pay $160,000. For an all-brick, three-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch-style home, with an attached, two-car garage, updated fixtures and appliances in the kitchen and recently refinished hardwood floors, you can expect to pay closer to $200,000.

Avalos notes that the brick homes here are significant; they represent the economic progress of the OKC southside. “Closer to the 2000s people started building in brick. That’s when a lot of people here began to get better jobs. Everybody started to get more opportunities and pay raises, so everyone started building in brick.” For an all-brick, three-bedroom, two-bathroom ranch-style home, with an attached, two-car garage, updated fixtures and appliances in the kitchen and recently refinished hardwood floors, you can expect to pay closer to $200,000.

Southwestern students are served by schools in the Oklahoma City Public Schools system. Youngsters between preschool and fourth grade attend Prairie Queen Elementary, tweens go to Jefferson Middle for fifth through eighth grade and teens finish off their grade school careers at U.S. Grant High School. All three schools earned C grades from Niche in 2023. Jefferson, conveniently located just over half a mile southwest of most homes, has been serving students in the community since 1960. Today, it’s ranked in the top five best OKCPS middle schools by U.S. News & World Report. Grant High School, just a mile and a half northwest, has been serving students since 1953 and recently unveiled a new film production course in partnership with the Film Education Institute of Oklahoma.

For their groceries, residents can visit either one of the two Walmarts within 2 miles of the neighborhood. Your local Walmart Neighborhood Market is just a mile and a half north up Western Avenue, while your Walmart Supercenter is just 2 miles southeast across Interstate 240. But even closer to home, there’s La Michoacana Supermarket and Supermercados Morelos, off 59th Street. Both are just over a mile away. Per Avalos, these markets are a large part of the neighborhood’s continuing appeal, so much so that many of his clients are unwilling to consider looking at homes in other parts of town. “They don’t want to look anywhere else because the stores and businesses they want are close. There are a lot of Latino businesses and restaurants around here that people love. If they move to another part of town, they won’t find the specific products or goods they’re looking for on a daily basis.”

Written By

Megan Quintin

Photography Contributed By

Elizabeth James

Video By

Syd Silberman