Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Oklahoma City, OK
🏆 Oklahoma City leads 17 of 23 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
681,088
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 4.5%)
Median income trails Oklahoma City by $5,141/yr
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
23% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 34°F
Households earn $5,141 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Indianapolis
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$12k less
$184,600 vs $196,700
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Income
$5,141
$64,251 vs $59,110/yr
Oklahoma City
Violent Crime
23% lower
676.0 vs 877.9 per 100k
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.6% unemployment
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 83.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Oklahoma City, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 ✓ Lower | $196,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 | $1,012 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 | $64,251 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 8.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | OKLAHOMA CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" | 6.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 681,088 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Oklahoma City's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oklahoma City leads 17 of 23 categories. Indianapolis wins 6 and Oklahoma City wins 17. 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 Indianapolis to Oklahoma City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $196,700 median home), income ($59,110 vs $64,251), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Oklahoma City, OK are about 689 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.