Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Worth, TX
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Fort Worth leads 15 of 23 categories
Fort Worth
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$72,726 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
121⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
924,663 ✓ Larger
Tulsa
Oklahoma
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High
Population
411,938
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Worth, TX
Pros
51% less violent crime than Tulsa
Households earn $16,078 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 49°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (458.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Tulsa
Property crime (2699.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $76k less ($174,200 vs $250,300)
Rent averages $355/mo less ($958 vs $1,313)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Worth
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Violent crime (941.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Worth by $16,078/yr
Property crime (3627.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Worth
Median Income
$16,078
$72,726 vs $56,648/yr
Fort Worth
Violent Crime
51% lower
458.4 vs 941.9 per 100k
Fort Worth
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.3% vs 5.8% unemployment
Fort Worth
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 93.6°F
Tulsa
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$76k less
$174,200 vs $250,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Worth, TX | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $250,300 | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,313 | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,726 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.2% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.1% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT WORTH ISD | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 93.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.3" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.0" ✓ Less | 8.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 924,663 ✓ Larger | 411,938 |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% ✓ Higher | 52.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.8% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.1% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Worth's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Worth leads 15 of 23 categories. Fort Worth wins 15 and Tulsa wins 8. 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 Fort Worth to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($250,300 vs $174,200 median home), income ($72,726 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Worth, TX and Tulsa, OK are about 245 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.