Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 Allen leads 16 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
Norman
Oklahoma
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68
Population
127,701 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Households earn $58,410 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Norman
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 50°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $390,200
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Norman
Norman, OK
Pros
Rent averages $743/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,747)
Homes cost $165k less ($224,900 vs $390,200)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Allen
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $58,410/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Median Income
$58,410
$121,259 vs $62,849/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
59% lower
106.4 vs 260.2 per 100k
Allen
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Norman
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Median Home Value
$165k less
$224,900 vs $390,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High | $224,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,004 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $62,849 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 68 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 45.6% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 94.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 92.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" | 37.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 4.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 127,701 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Norman is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 16 of 23 categories. Allen wins 16 and Norman wins 7. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Allen to Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $224,900 median home), income ($121,259 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and Norman, OK are about 152 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.