Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, MA
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tulsa leads 17 of 23 categories
Springfield
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
155,305
Tulsa
Oklahoma
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648 ✓ Higher
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.
Springfield, MA
Pros
5% less violent crime than Tulsa
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tulsa by $8,971/yr
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 5.8%)
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.8%)
Households earn $8,971 more per year on average
Homes cost $24k less ($174,200 vs $198,500)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Springfield
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 35°F
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
Springfield
Violent Crime
5% lower
891.4 vs 941.9 per 100k
Tulsa
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Income
$8,971
$56,648 vs $47,677/yr
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$24k less
$174,200 vs $198,500
Tulsa
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.7% unemployment
Tulsa
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 84.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, MA | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $198,500 | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,047 | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,677 | $56,648 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.7%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 235⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.8°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.9°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 44.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,305 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 17 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 6 and Tulsa wins 17. 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 Springfield to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,500 vs $174,200 median home), income ($47,677 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, MA and Tulsa, OK are about 1,314 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.