Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Glendale, CA
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Glendale leads 13 of 23 categories
Glendale
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
76 ✓ Safer
Population
194,512
Tulsa
Oklahoma
10
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.
Glendale, CA
Pros
70% less violent crime than Tulsa
Households earn $24,571 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 49°F
More college-educated — 43.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $992,000
Higher rents — median is $2,002/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 $818k less ($174,200 vs $992,000)
Rent averages $1044/mo less ($958 vs $2,002)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Glendale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Glendale by $24,571/yr
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
Glendale
Median Income
$24,571
$81,219 vs $56,648/yr
Glendale
Violent Crime
70% lower
287.2 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
$818k less
$174,200 vs $992,000
Tulsa
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.1% unemployment
Tulsa
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 85.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Glendale, CA | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $992,000⚠ High | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,002⚠ High | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $81,219 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 76 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.6:1 | 18.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.8% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Glendale Unified | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.8°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 194,512 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.1 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.2% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Glendale'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, Glendale leads 13 of 23 categories. Glendale wins 13 and Tulsa wins 10. 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 Glendale to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($992,000 vs $174,200 median home), income ($81,219 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Glendale, CA and Tulsa, OK are about 1,267 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.