Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tallahassee, FL
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tulsa leads 12 of 19 categories
Tallahassee
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.3
Median Household Income
$52,899
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
198,259
Tulsa
Oklahoma
12
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.
Tallahassee, FL
Pros
More college-educated — 49.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 49°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.8%)
Median income trails Tulsa by $3,749/yr
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $82k less ($174,200 vs $256,400)
Rent averages $207/mo less ($958 vs $1,165)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Households earn $3,749 more per year on average
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Tallahassee
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
Tulsa
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 95.3 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Income
$3,749
$56,648 vs $52,899/yr
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$82k less
$174,200 vs $256,400
Tulsa
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tallahassee, FL | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.3 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $256,400 | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,165 | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,899 | $56,648 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 49.9% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LEON | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 63.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.3" | 44.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 198,259 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 27.6 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.8% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.2% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tallahassee's cost of living index is 95.3 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 12 of 19 categories. Tallahassee wins 7 and Tulsa wins 12. 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 Tallahassee to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($256,400 vs $174,200 median home), income ($52,899 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tallahassee, FL and Tulsa, OK are about 778 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.