Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Oklahoma City, OK
🏆 Austin leads 14 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
681,088
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
31% less violent crime than Oklahoma City
Households earn $22,305 more per year on average
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 49°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($196,700 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $537/mo less ($1,012 vs $1,549)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Austin
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $22,305/yr
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Median Income
$22,305
$86,556 vs $64,251/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
31% lower
466.9 vs 676.0 per 100k
Austin
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 93.1°F
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Home Value
$265k less
$196,700 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Oklahoma City, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $196,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,012 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $64,251 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 8.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | OKLAHOMA CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 93.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 6.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 681,088 |
| Median Age | 34.2 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Oklahoma City's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 14 of 23 categories. Austin wins 14 and Oklahoma City 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 Austin to Oklahoma City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $196,700 median home), income ($86,556 vs $64,251), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Oklahoma City, OK are about 357 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.