Oklahoma City, OK vs Tulsa, OK
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Jun 2026
Report card
| Category | Oklahoma CityOklahoma City, OK | TulsaTulsa, OK | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Soft | |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | Elevated | High Risk | |
| Education | Same | ||
| Quality of Life | Good | Average | |
| Sovereignty | High Autonomy | High Autonomy | Same |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
$61,432 is the comfortable income for a family of 4 in Oklahoma City, OK, while Tulsa, OK requires $109,846, a 79% higher figure that places Tulsa in the 71st percentile versus Oklahoma City's 33rd in 2024 data. The same pattern holds for a single person: $41,790 in Oklahoma City compared to $74,725 in Tulsa, again 79% higher. Median household income runs the other direction, with Oklahoma City at $66,702 against Tulsa's $58,407, a 14% gap in 2023 Census figures.
Population density differs sharply, with Tulsa at 2,089 people per square mile, 84% higher than Oklahoma City's 1,135, placing Tulsa in the 62nd percentile and Oklahoma City in the 32nd. Healthcare access scores also diverge: Tulsa reaches 100/100, 9 points higher than Oklahoma City's 91/100, putting Tulsa in the 90th percentile and Oklahoma City in the 62nd. Average commute times are shorter in Tulsa at 18.7 minutes versus 22.2 minutes in Oklahoma City, a 3-minute difference, with Tulsa in the 18th percentile and Oklahoma City in the 41st.
Traffic deaths per 100,000 people are 22 in Tulsa versus 16 in Oklahoma City, a 34% higher rate, with Tulsa in the 64th percentile and Oklahoma City in the 50th. Violent crime also runs higher in Tulsa at 818 per 100,000 compared to 678 in Oklahoma City, a 21% difference, and property crime is 3,404 versus 2,649, 29% higher. Unemployment is identical at 3.2% in both cities, and job growth is close at +1.7% for Oklahoma City and +1.3% for Tulsa.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | Tulsa, OK | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 8635th pctl | 7826th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Oklahoma City, OK 86; Tulsa, OK 78; Oklahoma City is 10% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $215,10033rd pctl | $189,60025th pctl | Median home value: Oklahoma City, OK $215,100; Tulsa, OK $189,600; Oklahoma City is 13% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,08339th pctl | $99831st pctl | Median rent: Oklahoma City, OK $1,083; Tulsa, OK $998; Oklahoma City is 9% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $66,70241st pctl | $58,40727th pctl | Median household income: Oklahoma City, OK $66,702; Tulsa, OK $58,407; Oklahoma City is 14% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $41,79033rd pctl | $74,72571st pctl | Comfortable income (single): Oklahoma City, OK $41,790; Tulsa, OK $74,725; Tulsa is 79% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $61,43233rd pctl | $109,84671st pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Oklahoma City, OK $61,432; Tulsa, OK $109,846; Tulsa is 79% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Affordable | Affordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Tulsa needs about
$68,000
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 86 vs 78). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | Tulsa, OK | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.2%29th pctl | 3.2%29th pctl | About the same |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.7%69th pctl | +1.3%59th pctl | About the same |
| Per-capita income | $37,10948th pctl | $37,53349th pctl | About the same |
| Poverty rate | 15.2%67th pctl | 18.6%78th pctl | Poverty rate: Oklahoma City, OK 15.2%; Tulsa, OK 18.6%; Tulsa is 3.4 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 22.2 min41st pctl | 18.7 min18th pctl | Average commute: Oklahoma City, OK 22.2 min; Tulsa, OK 18.7 min; Oklahoma City is 3 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 9.8%45th pctl | 10.1%47th pctl | About the same |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Weak | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | Tulsa, OK | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 67892nd pctl | 81896th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Oklahoma City, OK 678; Tulsa, OK 818; Tulsa is 21% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,64988th pctl | 3,40495th pctl | Property crime per 100k: Oklahoma City, OK 2,649; Tulsa, OK 3,404; Tulsa is 29% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Dangerous | About the same |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Oklahoma City, OK B+; Tulsa, OK C+; Oklahoma City is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | Tulsa, OK | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Humid | Humid | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Fair | Clean | About the same |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband, walkability and local food access aren't available for either place.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Oklahoma, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Oklahoma →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | Tulsa, OK | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 0 mi1st pctl | 5 mi4th pctl | Nearest large city: Oklahoma City, OK 0 mi; Tulsa, OK 5 mi; Tulsa is 5 mi higher. |
| Target proximity | Poor | Poor | Target proximity: Oklahoma City, OK F; Tulsa, OK D-; Tulsa is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 462 mi65th pctl | 543 mi75th pctl | Distance to international border: Oklahoma City, OK 462 mi; Tulsa, OK 543 mi; Tulsa is 18% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 421 mi64th pctl | 444 mi65th pctl | Distance to coastline: Oklahoma City, OK 421 mi; Tulsa, OK 444 mi; Tulsa is 5% higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | Vulnerable | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | Tulsa, OK | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 688,69399th pctl | 412,32298th pctl | Population: Oklahoma City, OK 688,693; Tulsa, OK 412,322; Oklahoma City is 67% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 1,13532nd pctl | 2,08962nd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Oklahoma City, OK 1,135; Tulsa, OK 2,089; Tulsa is 84% higher. |
| Median age | 3525th pctl | 35.529th pctl | About the same |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 34.0%55th pctl | 33.3%53rd pctl | About the same |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.553rd pctl | 2.439th pctl | About the same |
More about Oklahoma City's residents · Tulsa's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | Oklahoma CityOklahoma City, OK | TulsaTulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | R+9 | R+11 |
| 2024 presidential | R +18.0 pts | R +22.0 pts |
Full politics data: Oklahoma City · Tulsa
Moving between Oklahoma City and Tulsa
- Median rent: $1,083 in Oklahoma City, $998 in Tulsa
- Median home value: $215,100 in Oklahoma City, $189,600 in Tulsa
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 86 in Oklahoma City, 78 in Tulsa
- Median household income: $66,702 in Oklahoma City, $58,407 in Tulsa
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $61,432 in Oklahoma City, $109,846 in Tulsa
- Unemployment: 3.2% in Oklahoma City, 3.2% in Tulsa
- Average commute: 22.2 min in Oklahoma City, 18.7 min in Tulsa
- Violent crime per 100k: 678 in Oklahoma City, 818 in Tulsa
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- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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