Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Fresno leads 12 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
Tulsa
Oklahoma
11
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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
22% less violent crime than Tulsa
Households earn $6,353 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Tulsa
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $148k less ($174,200 vs $321,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.8%)
Rent averages $269/mo less ($958 vs $1,227)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
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 Fresno by $6,353/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Median Income
$6,353
$63,001 vs $56,648/yr
Fresno
Violent Crime
22% lower
735.5 vs 941.9 per 100k
Fresno
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 93.6°F
Tulsa
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$148k less
$174,200 vs $321,800
Tulsa
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.8% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 18.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 93.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 411,938 |
| Median Age | 32.1 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fresno leads 12 of 23 categories. Fresno 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 Fresno to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $174,200 median home), income ($63,001 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Tulsa, OK are about 1,325 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.