Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lansing, MI
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tulsa leads 15 of 23 categories
Lansing
Michigan
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$50,747
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986
Tulsa
Oklahoma
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
411,938 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $62k less ($112,200 vs $174,200)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Tulsa by $5,901/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 5.8%)
Tulsa, OK
Pros
30% less violent crime than Lansing
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.8%)
Households earn $5,901 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 31°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Lansing
Median Home Value
$62k less
$112,200 vs $174,200
Tulsa
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Income
$5,901
$56,648 vs $50,747/yr
Tulsa
Violent Crime
30% lower
941.9 vs 1345.1 per 100k
Tulsa
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.3% unemployment
Tulsa
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lansing, MI | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $112,200 ✓ Lower | $174,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $954 ✓ Lower | $958 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,747 | $56,648 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 260⚠ High | 218⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 248⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.3% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.4% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lansing Public School District | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.6°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.2" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 112,986 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.3% ✓ Higher | 52.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.6% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lansing's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 15 of 23 categories. Lansing 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 Lansing to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,200 vs $174,200 median home), income ($50,747 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lansing, MI and Tulsa, OK are about 756 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.