Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lancaster, CA
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tulsa leads 12 of 23 categories
Lancaster
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
171,465
Tulsa
Oklahoma
12
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.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
11% less violent crime than Tulsa
Households earn $14,719 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Tulsa
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $195k less ($174,200 vs $368,800)
Rent averages $618/mo less ($958 vs $1,576)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (5.8%)
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
Median income trails Lancaster by $14,719/yr
Property crime (3627.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lancaster
Median Income
$14,719
$71,367 vs $56,648/yr
Lancaster
Violent Crime
11% lower
834.7 vs 941.9 per 100k
Lancaster
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 93.6°F
Tulsa
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$195k less
$174,200 vs $368,800
Tulsa
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lancaster, CA | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $368,800⚠ High | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,367 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.6% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (63) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 18.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.2% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lancaster Elementary | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 93.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 6.8" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 171,465 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.6 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.1% ✓ Higher | 52.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lancaster'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, Tulsa leads 12 of 23 categories. Lancaster wins 11 and Tulsa wins 12. 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 Lancaster to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($368,800 vs $174,200 median home), income ($71,367 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lancaster, CA and Tulsa, OK are about 1,255 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.