Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Providence, RI
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tulsa leads 15 of 23 categories
Providence
Rhode Island
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715
Tulsa
Oklahoma
15
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.
Providence, RI
Pros
71% less violent crime than Tulsa
Households earn $4,717 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Tulsa
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 5.8%)
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $119k less ($174,200 vs $293,000)
Rent averages $256/mo less ($958 vs $1,214)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Providence
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
Median income trails Providence by $4,717/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Providence
Median Income
$4,717
$61,365 vs $56,648/yr
Providence
Violent Crime
71% lower
276.7 vs 941.9 per 100k
Tulsa
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$119k less
$174,200 vs $293,000
Tulsa
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.2% unemployment
Tulsa
Summer Heat
10.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Providence, RI | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.9⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $293,000 | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,214 | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,365 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.2 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.5% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Providence | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.3°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.5" | 44.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.6" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 189,715 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.3 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.9% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Providence's cost of living index is 100.9 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 15 of 23 categories. Providence wins 8 and Tulsa wins 15. 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 Providence to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($293,000 vs $174,200 median home), income ($61,365 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Providence, RI and Tulsa, OK are about 1,367 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.