Original analysis

Oklahoma City foundation soil risk map

We rated 63 residential ZIP codes across the metro by how much their soil shrinks and swells, using USDA soil survey data. The short version: the south and west-central city sits on some of the most expansive clay in the region, and the east side mostly doesn't.

LowModerateHighFew homes / not ratedArea-weighted linear extensibility of the top 150 cm of soil, USDA NRCS SSURGO. Tap a ZIP.

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ZIP code

What we found

Highest shrink-swell: 73159 (Oklahoma City, 84% high-swell), 73139 (Oklahoma City, 79% high-swell), 73120 (Oklahoma City, 75% high-swell), 73119 (Oklahoma City, 69% high-swell), 73162 (Oklahoma City, 73% high-swell). These are dominated by Kirkland, Renthin and Renfrow clays averaging close to 40% clay in the top 150 cm.
Lowest: 73084 (Spencer), 73020 (Choctaw), 73130 (Midwest City), 73151 (Oklahoma City), 73045 (Harrah), mostly sandy Stephenville and Harrah soils.
Old homes on moving clay: 73119 (52% built before 1960), 73103 (71% built before 1960), 73118 (69% built before 1960), 73106 (61% built before 1960). Older homes are more likely to be pier and beam and to have been through decades of wet-dry cycles.
Timing: as of October 20, 2026, 100% of Oklahoma County is in severe drought, and 2026 has had more severe-drought weeks than any year since 2011. High-swell ZIPs feel that first.

All 63 ZIP codes

Rank	ZIP	Area	Shrink-swell	LEP %	High-swell land	Main soils	Median year built	Built before 1960
1	73159	Oklahoma City	High	7.5	84%	Kirkland, Renthin	1974	12%
2	73139	Oklahoma City	High	6.9	79%	Kirkland, Renthin	1976	5%
3	73120	Oklahoma City	High	6.7	75%	Renthin, Grainola	1978	16%
4	73119	Oklahoma City	High	6.7	69%	Renthin, Kirkland	1959	52%
5	73162	Oklahoma City	High	6.5	73%	Renthin, Grainola	1987	2%
6	73114	Oklahoma City	High	6.0	72%	Renthin, Grainola	1977	23%
7	73116	Oklahoma City	High	6.0	64%	Renthin, Grainola	1965	37%
8	73103	Oklahoma City	Moderate	5.9	57%	Renthin, Norge	1938	71%
9	73149	Oklahoma City	Moderate	5.9	65%	Renthin, Kirkland	1976	17%
10	73160	Moore	Moderate	5.9	66%	Renfrow, Kirkland	1987	3%
11	73069	Norman	Moderate	5.8	59%	Kirkland, Renfrow	1974	30%
12	73118	Oklahoma City	Moderate	5.8	47%	Renthin, Grainola	1947	69%
13	73142	Oklahoma City	Moderate	5.8	68%	Grainola, Renthin	2003	2%
14	73134	Oklahoma City	Moderate	5.7	66%	Renthin, Grainola	2005	1%
15	73132	Oklahoma City	Moderate	5.7	59%	Renthin, Grainola	1980	6%
16	73135	Oklahoma City	Moderate	5.6	64%	Renthin, Kirkland	1990	6%
17	73106	Oklahoma City	Moderate	5.6	39%	Teller, Kirkland	1942	61%
18	73179	Oklahoma City	Moderate	5.2	59%	Kirkland, Renthin	2013	6%
19	73012	Edmond	Moderate	5.1	50%	Renthin, Grainola	2007	1%
20	73071	Norman	Moderate	5.1	38%	Kirkland, Renfrow	1991	8%
21	73110	Midwest City	Moderate	5.0	33%	Teller, Kirkland	1968	36%
22	73145	Oklahoma City	Moderate	5.0	33%	Renthin, Norge	2001	2%
23	73078	Piedmont	Moderate	5.0	48%	Renfrow, Kingfisher	2005	2%
24	73003	Edmond	Moderate	4.8	48%	Renthin, Renfrow	1995	3%
25	73169	Oklahoma City	Moderate	4.7	44%	Kirkland, Bethany	2006	0%
26	73025	Edmond	Moderate	4.6	44%	Renthin, Renfrow	2004	1%
27	73105	Oklahoma City	Moderate	4.5	42%	Renthin, Stephenville	1968	40%
28	73170	Oklahoma City	Moderate	4.5	39%	Kirkland, Renfrow	2000	1%
29	73109	Oklahoma City	Moderate	4.2	21%	Norge, Renthin	1957	57%
30	73013	Edmond	Moderate	4.0	36%	Stephenville, Renthin	2000	2%
31	73112	Oklahoma City	Moderate	4.0	28%	Teller, Renthin	1964	41%
32	73122	Warr Acres	Moderate	3.8	23%	Teller, Kirkland	1965	31%
33	73115	Del City	Moderate	3.7	14%	Norge, Renthin	1964	38%
34	73099	Yukon	Moderate	3.7	19%	Norge, Dale	2002	3%
35	73111	Oklahoma City	Moderate	3.5	18%	Stephenville, Harrah	1957	60%
36	73107	Oklahoma City	Moderate	3.4	13%	Teller, Bethany	1949	72%
37	73108	Oklahoma City	Moderate	3.4	9%	Dale, Yahola	1957	57%
38	73131	Oklahoma City	Moderate	3.3	20%	Stephenville, Renthin	1987	26%
39	73173	Oklahoma City	Moderate	3.2	18%	Teller, Bethany	2013	5%
40	73008	Bethany	Moderate	3.2	13%	Teller, Konawa	1967	27%
41	73165	Oklahoma City	Moderate	3.2	15%	Stephenville, Harrah	2002	4%
42	73104	Oklahoma City	Moderate	3.1	23%	Teller, Renthin	2012	14%
43	73072	Norman	Low	3.0	11%	Gracemore, Grant	1992	5%
44	73128	Oklahoma City	Low	2.9	15%	Yahola, Norge	2003	3%
45	73089	Tuttle	Low	2.9	11%	Minco, Grant	1997	10%
46	73117	Oklahoma City	Low	2.9	6%	Yahola, Teller	1969	43%
47	73121	Oklahoma City	Low	2.8	12%	Stephenville, Harrah	1964	45%
48	73129	Oklahoma City	Low	2.8	4%	Stephenville, Harrah	1964	44%
49	73141	Oklahoma City	Low	2.7	4%	Stephenville, Harrah	1982	19%
50	73007	Arcadia	Low	2.5	3%	Stephenville, Harrah	2003	8%
51	73026	Norman	Low	2.5	3%	Stephenville, Harrah	1991	5%
52	73065	Newcastle	Low	2.4	6%	Nash, Grant	2002	3%
53	73127	Oklahoma City	Low	2.4	4%	Derby, Canadian	1973	11%
54	73054	Luther	Low	2.4	5%	Stephenville, Harrah	1999	8%
55	73034	Edmond	Low	2.3	5%	Stephenville, Harrah	1996	6%
56	73049	Jones	Low	2.3	3%	Stephenville, Harrah	1991	18%
57	73150	Oklahoma City	Low	2.2	5%	Stephenville, Harrah	1988	8%
58	73064	Mustang	Low	2.1	3%	Nash, Kingfisher	1995	3%
59	73151	Oklahoma City	Low	2.1	0%	Stephenville, Harrah	2005	0%
60	73045	Harrah	Low	2.1	4%	Stephenville, Darnell	1990	7%
61	73130	Midwest City	Low	2.1	1%	Stephenville, Harrah	1983	14%
62	73020	Choctaw	Low	2.1	2%	Stephenville, Harrah	1993	7%
63	73084	Spencer	Low	2.0	0%	Stephenville, Harrah	1974	24%

Area names are the USPS mailing city or the Census place covering most of the ZIP. ZIPs with fewer than 300 homes or no rated soil (campuses, the airport, Tinker AFB, downtown pavement) are left out.

How we built this

Soil. For each ZIP Code Tabulation Area (US Census 2020 boundaries), we pulled every intersecting soil map unit from the USDA NRCS Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO) through Soil Data Access, weighted by area. For each map unit we averaged the linear extensibility percent (LEP) of each soil component's horizons over the top 150 cm, weighted by horizon thickness, then by component share. Map units with no rated horizons (mostly "Urban land") are excluded from the average. Classes follow NRCS: low under 3, moderate 3 to 6, high 6 to 9, very high 9 and up.

Homes. Median year built and share built before 1960 come from the Census American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates (tables B25034 and B25035).

Earthquakes and drought. USGS Earthquake Catalog, magnitude 2.5 and up since 2000. US Drought Monitor county statistics for Oklahoma County.

Limits. Soil maps are mapped at a scale meant for planning, not for a single lot. Fill dirt, grading, drainage, trees and plumbing leaks all change what happens under one house. Use this to understand your area, not to diagnose your home.

Using this data. Journalists, realtors and inspectors are welcome to cite or republish this map and table with a link to this page (CC BY 4.0).