Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tulsa leads 15 of 23 categories
El Monte
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682
Tulsa
Oklahoma
15
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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
55% less violent crime than Tulsa
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Households earn $3,281 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Tulsa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $423k less ($174,200 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $647/mo less ($958 vs $1,605)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 El Monte by $3,281/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
El Monte
Median Income
$3,281
$59,929 vs $56,648/yr
El Monte
Violent Crime
55% lower
423.2 vs 941.9 per 100k
Tulsa
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$423k less
$174,200 vs $597,200
Tulsa
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.0% unemployment
Tulsa
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 18.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 15 of 23 categories. El Monte wins 8 and Tulsa wins 15. 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 El Monte to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $174,200 median home), income ($59,929 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Tulsa, OK are about 1,256 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.