Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Stockton, CA
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tulsa leads 16 of 23 categories
Stockton
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030
Tulsa
Oklahoma
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
411,938 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Stockton, CA
Pros
Households earn $14,964 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,000
Higher rents — median is $1,417/mo
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $208k less ($174,200 vs $382,000)
Rent averages $459/mo less ($958 vs $1,417)
18% less violent crime than Stockton
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Stockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.8%)
Cons
Violent crime (941.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Stockton by $14,964/yr
Property crime (3627.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Stockton
Median Income
$14,964
$71,612 vs $56,648/yr
Tulsa
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Violent Crime
18% lower
941.9 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$208k less
$174,200 vs $382,000
Tulsa
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Stockton, CA | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.4⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $382,000⚠ High | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,417⚠ High | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,612 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.8 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.7% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 231⚠ High | 218⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 248⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 18.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Stockton Unified | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer | 93.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.3" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 320,030 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.2 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.5% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Stockton's cost of living index is 107.4 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 16 of 23 categories. Stockton 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 Stockton to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($382,000 vs $174,200 median home), income ($71,612 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Stockton, CA and Tulsa, OK are about 1,403 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.