Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Minneapolis, MN
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tulsa leads 14 of 22 categories
Minneapolis
Minnesota
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Tulsa
Oklahoma
14
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.
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
Households earn $19,684 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Tulsa
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $155k less ($174,200 vs $328,700)
19% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Rent averages $309/mo less ($958 vs $1,267)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Minneapolis
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 22°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Minneapolis by $19,684/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
Minneapolis
Median Income
$19,684
$76,332 vs $56,648/yr
Tulsa
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Violent Crime
19% lower
941.9 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$155k less
$174,200 vs $328,700
Tulsa
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 83.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Minneapolis, MN | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $328,700⚠ High | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,267 | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,332 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.9 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.6% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 281⚠ High | 218⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 305⚠ High | 248⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 245⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.5% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Minneapolis Public School District | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 21.7°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.1°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 426,877 ✓ Larger | 411,938 |
| Median Age | 32.8 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Minneapolis's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 14 of 22 categories. Minneapolis wins 8 and Tulsa wins 14. 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 Minneapolis to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($328,700 vs $174,200 median home), income ($76,332 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Minneapolis, MN and Tulsa, OK are about 626 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.