Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ann Arbor, MI
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tulsa leads 12 of 23 categories
Ann Arbor
Michigan
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,546 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
80 ✓ Safer
Population
122,216
Tulsa
Oklahoma
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648
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.
Ann Arbor, MI
Pros
68% less violent crime than Tulsa
Households earn $21,898 more per year on average
More college-educated — 77.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (3.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $416,500
Higher rents — median is $1,472/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Tulsa
Snowy winters — about 59" of snow per year
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $242k less ($174,200 vs $416,500)
Rent averages $514/mo less ($958 vs $1,472)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 32°F
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Ann Arbor
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Ann Arbor by $21,898/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
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Ann Arbor
Median Income
$21,898
$78,546 vs $56,648/yr
Ann Arbor
Violent Crime
68% lower
302.5 vs 941.9 per 100k
Ann Arbor
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.8% unemployment
Tulsa
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$242k less
$174,200 vs $416,500
Tulsa
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ann Arbor, MI | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $416,500⚠ High | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,472⚠ High | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,546 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.6 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 80 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 82 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 77.5% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 97.8% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ann Arbor Public Schools | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,216 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 27.4 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.0% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ann Arbor's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 12 of 23 categories. Ann Arbor wins 11 and Tulsa wins 12. 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 Ann Arbor to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($416,500 vs $174,200 median home), income ($78,546 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ann Arbor, MI and Tulsa, OK are about 777 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.