Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tulsa leads 19 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305
Tulsa
Oklahoma
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
411,938 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($86,200 vs $174,200)
Rent averages $128/mo less ($830 vs $958)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Tulsa by $15,205/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 5.8%)
Tulsa, OK
Pros
30% less violent crime than Dayton
Households earn $15,205 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
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
Dayton
Median Home Value
$88k less
$86,200 vs $174,200
Tulsa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 92.3 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Income
$15,205
$56,648 vs $41,443/yr
Tulsa
Violent Crime
30% lower
941.9 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Tulsa
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
5.8% vs 10.0% unemployment
Tulsa
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 86.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $174,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $958 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $56,648 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 218⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 248⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 19 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 4 and Tulsa wins 19. 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 Dayton to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $174,200 median home), income ($41,443 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Tulsa, OK are about 685 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.