Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Ontario, CA
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tulsa leads 12 of 22 categories
Ontario
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326
Tulsa
Oklahoma
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High
Population
411,938 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Ontario, CA
Pros
71% less violent crime than Tulsa
Households earn $21,422 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Tulsa
Longer commutes — 31.3 min average each way
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $339k less ($174,200 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $868/mo less ($958 vs $1,826)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Ontario by $21,422/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
Ontario
Median Income
$21,422
$78,070 vs $56,648/yr
Ontario
Violent Crime
71% lower
272.2 vs 941.9 per 100k
Tulsa
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$339k less
$174,200 vs $513,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Ontario, CA | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $513,000⚠ High | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,826⚠ High | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,070 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (65) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.4:1 | 18.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.2% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.2% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Ontario-Montclair | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 93.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.6" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,326 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.7% ✓ Higher | 52.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.0% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Ontario's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 12 of 22 categories. Ontario wins 10 and Tulsa wins 12. 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 Ontario to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($513,000 vs $174,200 median home), income ($78,070 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Ontario, CA and Tulsa, OK are about 1,233 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.