Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Philadelphia, PA
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tulsa leads 16 of 23 categories
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Tulsa
Oklahoma
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High
Population
411,938
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
4% less violent crime than Tulsa
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Tulsa
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.8%)
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Rent averages $292/mo less ($958 vs $1,250)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Homes cost $41k less ($174,200 vs $215,500)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
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
Philadelphia
Median Income
$889
$57,537 vs $56,648/yr
Philadelphia
Violent Crime
4% lower
908.7 vs 941.9 per 100k
Tulsa
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$41k less
$174,200 vs $215,500
Tulsa
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Tulsa
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 89.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Philadelphia, PA | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.5⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $215,500 | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,250 | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,537 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 230⚠ High | 218⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 239⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.6% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Philadelphia City SD | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 41.6°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.3°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.7" | 44.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.1" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger | 411,938 |
| Median Age | 34.8 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.2% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Philadelphia's cost of living index is 103.5 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 16 of 23 categories. Philadelphia wins 7 and Tulsa wins 16. 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 Philadelphia to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($215,500 vs $174,200 median home), income ($57,537 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Philadelphia, PA and Tulsa, OK are about 1,158 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.