Moving from Downey, CA to Broken Arrow, OK

Relocating 1442 mi from Downey to Broken Arrow is a 24h 52m drive through 5 state(s). At long-haul distance the move touches nearly every household line item β€” rent or mortgage, utilities, tax withholding, climate load. This page sets the two cities side by side on each data layer.

1442 mi Β· 24h 52m by car Β· OK β†’ TX β†’ NM β†’ AZ β†’ CA

COL -21.4% Home values -67.7% Ξ” -4.9Β°F annual

Distance & route

Driving
1442 mi
Drive time
24h 52m
States
5
Fuel (25 mpg)
58 gal
Route throughOK β†’ TX β†’ NM β†’ AZ β†’ CA
Primary highwaysI 40, US 66 HIST, I 44
Major cities en routeTulsa, Oklahoma City, Norman, Amarillo, Albuquerque

Route via OSRM driving profile. Actual time varies with traffic and season.

Cost of living

DowneyBroken ArrowU.S. avg
All items (RPP)113.56689.214100.0
Rents158.58973.856100.0
Goods106.62393.778100.0
Services170.43368.235100.0

BEA RPP drops from 113.566 in Downey to 89.214 in Broken Arrow, a 21.4% cut on the overall price level (2024).

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (MSA-level Β· MSA-level); 2024.

Housing prices

Downey β€” typical home
$888,710
Broken Arrow β€” typical home
$286,846
Downey β€” typical rent
$2,241/mo
Broken Arrow β€” typical rent
$1,676/mo

Expect roughly 21.4% lower home prices β€” ZHVI goes from $888,710 to $286,846 moving to Broken Arrow.

YoY change: Downey +1.2%, Broken Arrow +2.1%. Snapshot: 2026-03. Data provided by Zillow.

Climate

1991–2020 normalsDowneyBroken Arrow
Annual avg temperature65Β°F60Β°F
January avg low47Β°F26Β°F
July avg high81Β°F94Β°F
Annual snowfallβ€”β€”
Annual precipitation12.0"β€”

Annual average temperatures in Downey (64.9Β°F) and Broken Arrow (60.0Β°F) stay within 5Β°F of each other (NOAA normals).

Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (stations: LONG BEACH DAUGHERTY FLD, CA US, BIXBY, OK US).

Demographics

ACS 5-year 2023DowneyBroken Arrow
Population111,793115,919
Median household income$87,400$85,220
Median age3737
Bachelor's degree or higher17.8%24.5%
Avg household size3.222.66

Median household incomes in Downey ($87,400) and Broken Arrow ($85,220) are within a few percent (ACS 2023).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2023.

Jobs & wages

Downey MSA β€” median wage
$50,490
Broken Arrow MSA β€” median wage
$43,140
Downey MSA β€” employment
6,185,570
Broken Arrow MSA β€” employment
443,020

Top occupations in Broken Arrow MSA

OccupationEmploymentMedian wage
Office and Administrative Support Occupations 57,490 $39,200
Sales and Related Occupations 42,230 $33,990
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations 42,030 $26,730
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations 40,710 $36,500
Production Occupations 33,610 $44,720

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Moving between California and Oklahoma

California income tax
13.3% top marginal
Oklahoma income tax
4.75% top marginal

State income-tax top marginal rates are from the Tax Foundation, updated annually. Check Oklahoma's DMV for the current deadline to transfer driver license and vehicle registration after establishing residency. Consult a tax professional for your specific filing situation β€” state tax treatment depends on residency, sourcing, and reciprocity agreements.

Best time to move

Moving companies typically charge 20–30% more between Memorial Day and Labor Day (peak season). October through April offers the lowest rates and better mover availability.

To avoid mid-semester school transfers, most U.S. families schedule moves between mid-June and mid-August. Public school calendars typically run late August or early September through late May or early June.

Winter driving along this route

  • Raton Pass (I-25 at the Colorado line) can close in winter storms.
  • I-17 and I-40 through the Flagstaff area can see winter closures; the rest of Arizona is generally clear year-round.
  • Donner Pass (I-80) and Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) see chain requirements and occasional closures December through March.

State DOT 511 phone or web services provide real-time road conditions year-round.

Packing & arrival checklist

  • Air conditioning matters: July highs in Broken Arrow average 94Β°F on NOAA normals. If the new place has window-unit or no AC, plan that purchase for the first week.
  • Tornado season peaks April through June β€” identify a safe room or interior space in the new home on day one.
  • Arrange utility connection (power, internet, gas, water) two weeks ahead of move-in.
  • Update mailing address with USPS change-of-address within the first week post-move.
  • Register to vote in Oklahoma after establishing residency.

Frequently asked

How far is Broken Arrow, OK from Downey, CA?

The driving distance is 1442 mi and the route typically takes 24h 52m via I 40 and US 66 HIST. The trip crosses 5 state(s). Actual time varies with traffic and season.

When is the best time to move from Downey to Broken Arrow?

Moving companies usually charge 20–30% less between October and April (off-peak). Memorial Day through Labor Day is peak pricing. For a 1442 mi drive, weather on the route matters too β€” see the timing section above for state-specific winter warnings.

How does the job market in Broken Arrow compare to Downey?

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics show median wages of $43,140 in the Broken Arrow MSA vs $50,490 in the Downey MSA, on total employment of 443,020 and 6,185,570 respectively. Top occupations on the destination side appear in the Jobs & wages section above.

How much do homes cost in Broken Arrow compared to Downey?

Zillow ZHVI (2026-03) puts the typical home value at $286,846 in Broken Arrow vs $888,710 in Downey β€” a 67.7% lower figure. Data provided by Zillow Research.

Is Broken Arrow more expensive than Downey?

Based on BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), overall price level in Broken Arrow is 21.4% lower than Downey (89.214 vs 113.566, U.S. average = 100). Rent and services typically carry most of this gap.

How does household income compare in Downey vs Broken Arrow?

Median household income on the Census ACS 5-year (2023) is $85,220 in Broken Arrow vs $87,400 in Downey β€” a 2.5% lower figure. Compare this against the cost-of-living gap above when budgeting.

Plan the move

Estimate costs with our moving cost calculator, or see where else to move from Downey.

City profiles: Downey, CA Β· Broken Arrow, OK.

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