Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Erie leads 12 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826
Tulsa
Oklahoma
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648 ✓ Higher
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.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $73k less ($101,500 vs $174,200)
60% less violent crime than Tulsa
Rent averages $149/mo less ($809 vs $958)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tulsa by $13,513/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 5.8%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Households earn $13,513 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Erie
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
Erie
Violent Crime
60% lower
375.6 vs 941.9 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$73k less
$101,500 vs $174,200
Tulsa
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 91.5 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Income
$13,513
$56,648 vs $43,135/yr
Tulsa
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tulsa
Summer Heat
12.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $174,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $958 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $56,648 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% ✓ Higher | 52.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.5% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Erie leads 12 of 23 categories. Erie wins 12 and Tulsa wins 11. 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 Erie to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $174,200 median home), income ($43,135 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Tulsa, OK are about 942 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.