Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oklahoma City, OK
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Oklahoma City leads 13 of 23 categories
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Palmdale
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
166,895
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Homes cost $201k less ($196,700 vs $397,500)
Rent averages $613/mo less ($1,012 vs $1,625)
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Palmdale by $14,163/yr
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Palmdale, CA
Pros
18% less violent crime than Oklahoma City
Households earn $14,163 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Oklahoma City
Key Differences at a Glance
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Home Value
$201k less
$196,700 vs $397,500
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.4% unemployment
Palmdale
Median Income
$14,163
$78,414 vs $64,251/yr
Palmdale
Violent Crime
18% lower
551.0 vs 676.0 per 100k
Palmdale
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 93.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | Palmdale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $196,700 ✓ Lower | $397,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,012 ✓ Lower | $1,625⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,251 | $78,414 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.5% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OKLAHOMA CITY | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.1°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 681,088 ✓ Larger | 166,895 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oklahoma City's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oklahoma City leads 13 of 23 categories. Oklahoma City wins 13 and Palmdale wins 10. 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 Oklahoma City to Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,700 vs $397,500 median home), income ($64,251 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oklahoma City, OK and Palmdale, CA are about 1,165 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.