Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Chattanooga leads 13 of 22 categories
Chattanooga
Tennessee
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,288
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.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
13% less violent crime than Tulsa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.1%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $56k less ($174,200 vs $230,500)
Rent averages $108/mo less ($958 vs $1,066)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Chattanooga
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
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Median Income
$1,055
$57,703 vs $56,648/yr
Chattanooga
Violent Crime
13% lower
823.7 vs 941.9 per 100k
Chattanooga
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.1% vs 5.8% unemployment
Tulsa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$56k less
$174,200 vs $230,500
Tulsa
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 44.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 8.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 52.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Chattanooga leads 13 of 22 categories. Chattanooga wins 13 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 Chattanooga to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $174,200 median home), income ($57,703 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Tulsa, OK are about 603 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.