Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, TX
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Pasadena
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,698 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
149⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
150,620
Tulsa
Oklahoma
11
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.
Pasadena, TX
Pros
40% less violent crime than Tulsa
Households earn $8,050 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 49°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (566.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Tulsa
Higher unemployment (8.9% vs 5.8%)
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.8%)
Rent averages $201/mo less ($958 vs $1,159)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Violent crime (941.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pasadena by $8,050/yr
Property crime (3627.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$8,050
$64,698 vs $56,648/yr
Pasadena
Violent Crime
40% lower
566.1 vs 941.9 per 100k
Tulsa
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, TX | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $171,600 ✓ Lower | $174,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,159 | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,698 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.9%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 15.9% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 73.0% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PASADENA ISD | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.9°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.1" | 44.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,620 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.6 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 52.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Pasadena wins 11 and Tulsa 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 Pasadena to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($171,600 vs $174,200 median home), income ($64,698 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, TX and Tulsa, OK are about 449 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.