Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Asheville, NC
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Asheville leads 12 of 23 categories
Asheville
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$63,810 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
93,695
Tulsa
Oklahoma
11
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.
Asheville, NC
Pros
15% less violent crime than Tulsa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 51.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,162 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $376,800
Violent crime (796.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3895.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($174,200 vs $376,800)
Rent averages $292/mo less ($958 vs $1,250)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Asheville
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
Median income trails Asheville by $7,162/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Asheville
Median Income
$7,162
$63,810 vs $56,648/yr
Asheville
Violent Crime
15% lower
796.1 vs 941.9 per 100k
Asheville
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.8% unemployment
Tulsa
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$203k less
$174,200 vs $376,800
Tulsa
Summer Heat
7.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Asheville, NC | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $376,800⚠ High | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,810 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.6% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 210⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.2% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.4% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Buncombe County Schools | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.7°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.8" | 44.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.5" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 93,695 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.5 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.0% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.6% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Asheville's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Asheville leads 12 of 23 categories. Asheville wins 12 and Tulsa wins 11. 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 Asheville to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($376,800 vs $174,200 median home), income ($63,810 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Asheville, NC and Tulsa, OK are about 748 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.