Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tulsa leads 15 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Tulsa
Oklahoma
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
411,938
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 49°F
Households earn $3,792 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Tulsa
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.8%)
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $61k less ($174,200 vs $235,000)
18% less violent crime than Houston
Rent averages $277/mo less ($958 vs $1,235)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.8%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Houston
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 Houston by $3,792/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Median Income
$3,792
$60,440 vs $56,648/yr
Tulsa
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Violent Crime
18% lower
941.9 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$61k less
$174,200 vs $235,000
Tulsa
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 218⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 248⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 44.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 411,938 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 15 of 23 categories. Houston 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 Houston to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $174,200 median home), income ($60,440 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Tulsa, OK are about 439 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.