Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norman, OK
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Norman leads 15 of 23 categories
Norman
Oklahoma
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,849
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701
Tacoma
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norman, OK
Pros
Homes cost $190k less ($224,900 vs $415,300)
76% less violent crime than Tacoma
Rent averages $485/mo less ($1,004 vs $1,489)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $16,236/yr
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $16,236 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Norman
Key Differences at a Glance
Norman
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Norman
Violent Crime
76% lower
260.2 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Norman
Median Home Value
$190k less
$224,900 vs $415,300
Norman
Summer Heat
15.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$16,236
$79,085 vs $62,849/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norman, OK | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $224,900 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,004 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,849 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.6% ✓ Higher | 32.8% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 90.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NORMAN | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.6" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.1" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 127,701 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.0 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.4% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 19.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norman's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Norman is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Norman leads 15 of 23 categories. Norman wins 15 and Tacoma wins 8. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($224,900 vs $415,300 median home), income ($62,849 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norman, OK and Tacoma, WA are about 1,536 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.