Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tulsa leads 17 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292
Tulsa
Oklahoma
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High
Population
411,938 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
71% less violent crime than Tulsa
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 5.8%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Tulsa
Median income trails Tulsa by $4,199/yr
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (5.8%)
Rent averages $244/mo less ($958 vs $1,202)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Allentown
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Violent crime (941.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3627.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Violent Crime
71% lower
272.1 vs 941.9 per 100k
Tulsa
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Income
$4,199
$56,648 vs $52,449/yr
Tulsa
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
5.8% vs 9.2% unemployment
Tulsa
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $174,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $56,648 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 44.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 17 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 6 and Tulsa wins 17. 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 Allentown to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $174,200 median home), income ($52,449 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Tulsa, OK are about 1,146 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.