Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tulsa leads 12 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$47,798
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Tulsa
Oklahoma
12
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.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Tulsa
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 49°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tulsa by $8,850/yr
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $68k less ($174,200 vs $242,300)
Households earn $8,850 more per year on average
Rent averages $87/mo less ($958 vs $1,045)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Athens-Clarke County
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
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
57% lower
406.1 vs 941.9 per 100k
Tulsa
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Income
$8,850
$56,648 vs $47,798/yr
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$68k less
$174,200 vs $242,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 | $56,648 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 44.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 8.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 12 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County 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 Athens-Clarke County to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $174,200 median home), income ($47,798 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Tulsa, OK are about 724 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.