Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Arvada leads 14 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Tulsa
Oklahoma
9
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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $49,366 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Tulsa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Tulsa
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $379k less ($174,200 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $748/mo less ($958 vs $1,706)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $49,366/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 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$49,366
$106,014 vs $56,648/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
70% lower
285.6 vs 941.9 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Tulsa
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$379k less
$174,200 vs $553,000
Tulsa
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 52.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 14 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 14 and Tulsa wins 9. 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 Arvada to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $174,200 median home), income ($106,014 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Tulsa, OK are about 565 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.