Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 Denton leads 13 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,921 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262 ✓ Larger
Norman
Oklahoma
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68
Population
127,701
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denton, TX
Pros
22% less violent crime than Norman
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.8%)
Households earn $9,072 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 50°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Norman
Norman, OK
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($224,900 vs $296,100)
Rent averages $260/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,264)
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Denton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
More college-educated — 45.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Denton by $9,072/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Median Income
$9,072
$71,921 vs $62,849/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
22% lower
204.2 vs 260.2 per 100k
Denton
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.8% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 92.5°F
Norman
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Median Home Value
$71k less
$224,900 vs $296,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 | $224,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 | $1,004 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 ✓ Higher | $62,849 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 68 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 92.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" | 37.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 4.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 ✓ Larger | 127,701 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 31.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Norman is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 13 of 23 categories. Denton wins 13 and Norman wins 10. 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 Denton to Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $224,900 median home), income ($71,921 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Norman, OK are about 140 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.