Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Broken Arrow, OK
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Broken Arrow leads 17 of 23 categories
Broken Arrow
Oklahoma
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,547 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59 ✓ Safer
Population
114,237
Palmdale
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Broken Arrow, OK
Pros
Homes cost $187k less ($210,800 vs $397,500)
60% less violent crime than Palmdale
Rent averages $442/mo less ($1,183 vs $1,625)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Commutes run 20 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.3%)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Broken Arrow
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Broken Arrow
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Broken Arrow
Median Income
$4,133
$82,547 vs $78,414/yr
Broken Arrow
Violent Crime
60% lower
223.1 vs 551.0 per 100k
Broken Arrow
Median Home Value
$187k less
$210,800 vs $397,500
Broken Arrow
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.4% unemployment
Palmdale
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 93.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Broken Arrow, OK | Palmdale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $210,800 ✓ Lower | $397,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,183 ✓ Lower | $1,625⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,547 ✓ Higher | $78,414 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 58 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.4% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROKEN ARROW | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.7" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,237 | 166,895 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.8 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.5% ✓ Higher | 66.5% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.1% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Broken Arrow's cost of living index is 89.5 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Broken Arrow is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Broken Arrow leads 17 of 23 categories. Broken Arrow wins 17 and Palmdale wins 6. 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 Broken Arrow to Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($210,800 vs $397,500 median home), income ($82,547 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Broken Arrow, OK and Palmdale, CA are about 1,260 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.