Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Oklahoma City, OK
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Norman
Oklahoma
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$64,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norman, OK
Pros
62% less violent crime than Oklahoma City
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 45.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.5%)
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.5%)
Homes cost $28k less ($196,700 vs $224,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
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
Norman
Violent Crime
62% lower
260.2 vs 676.0 per 100k
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 91.0 on the COL index
Oklahoma City
Median Income
$1,402
$64,251 vs $62,849/yr
Oklahoma City
Median Home Value
$28k less
$196,700 vs $224,900
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Oklahoma City, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 | $196,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 ✓ Lower | $1,012 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 | $64,251 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% ✓ Higher | 8.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | OKLAHOMA CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" ✓ Less | 6.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 | 681,088 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Oklahoma City's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Norman wins 11 and Oklahoma City wins 11. 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 Norman to Oklahoma City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $196,700 median home), income ($62,849 vs $64,251), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Oklahoma City, OK are about 18 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.