Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. Paul, MN
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 St. Paul leads 12 of 22 categories
St. Paul
Minnesota
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,806
Tulsa
Oklahoma
10
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.
St. Paul, MN
Pros
34% less violent crime than Tulsa
Households earn $13,271 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Tulsa
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($174,200 vs $264,900)
Rent averages $216/mo less ($958 vs $1,174)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 24°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
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 St. Paul by $13,271/yr
Property crime (3627.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
St. Paul
Median Income
$13,271
$69,919 vs $56,648/yr
St. Paul
Violent Crime
34% lower
617.7 vs 941.9 per 100k
St. Paul
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.8% unemployment
Tulsa
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$91k less
$174,200 vs $264,900
Tulsa
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 82.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. Paul, MN | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $264,900 | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,919 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.1 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.4% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ 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+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.8% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Saint Paul Public Schools | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 23.9°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.6°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 29.2" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 40.4" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,806 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.0% ✓ Higher | 52.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 11.8% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. Paul's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, St. Paul leads 12 of 22 categories. St. Paul wins 12 and Tulsa wins 10. 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 St. Paul to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($264,900 vs $174,200 median home), income ($69,919 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. Paul, MN and Tulsa, OK are about 627 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.