Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tulsa leads 13 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High
Population
290,674
Tulsa
Oklahoma
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
411,938 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $39,083 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 94°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 37.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $190k less ($174,200 vs $363,800)
Rent averages $447/mo less ($958 vs $1,405)
7% less violent crime than Anchorage
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 21°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $39,083/yr
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
Anchorage
Median Income
$39,083
$95,731 vs $56,648/yr
Anchorage
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.2% vs 5.8% unemployment
Tulsa
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Violent Crime
7% lower
941.9 vs 1014.8 per 100k
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$190k less
$174,200 vs $363,800
Tulsa
Summer Heat
26.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High | 248⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 18.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 52.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 13 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 10 and Tulsa wins 13. 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 Anchorage to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $174,200 median home), income ($95,731 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Tulsa, OK are about 2,868 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.