Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Syracuse, NY
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tulsa leads 14 of 23 categories
Syracuse
New York
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.2
Median Household Income
$43,584
Violent Crime Index
201⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
146,134
Tulsa
Oklahoma
14
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.
Syracuse, NY
Pros
Homes cost $56k less ($117,900 vs $174,200)
19% less violent crime than Tulsa
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (765.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tulsa by $13,064/yr
Property crime (4234.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 5.8%)
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Households earn $13,064 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 32°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Syracuse
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
Syracuse
Violent Crime
19% lower
765.3 vs 941.9 per 100k
Syracuse
Median Home Value
$56k less
$117,900 vs $174,200
Tulsa
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 95.2 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Income
$13,064
$56,648 vs $43,584/yr
Tulsa
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.6% unemployment
Tulsa
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 81.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Syracuse, NY | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.2 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $117,900 ✓ Lower | $174,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $932 ✓ Lower | $958 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,584 | $56,648 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.3% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 201⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 202⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.7% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.5% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.7°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.7°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 127.8" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 146,134 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.8% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Syracuse's cost of living index is 95.2 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 14 of 23 categories. Syracuse wins 9 and Tulsa wins 14. 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 Syracuse to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($117,900 vs $174,200 median home), income ($43,584 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Syracuse, NY and Tulsa, OK are about 1,152 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.