Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tulsa leads 13 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
213,164
Tulsa
Oklahoma
13
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.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
25% less violent crime than Tulsa
Households earn $5,730 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Des Moines
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
Median income trails Des Moines by $5,730/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Median Income
$5,730
$62,378 vs $56,648/yr
Des Moines
Violent Crime
25% lower
703.0 vs 941.9 per 100k
Tulsa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 ✓ Lower | $174,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 52.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 13 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 10 and Tulsa wins 13. 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 Des Moines to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $174,200 median home), income ($62,378 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Tulsa, OK are about 396 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.