Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tucson, AZ
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Tucson leads 12 of 23 categories
Tucson
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Tulsa
Oklahoma
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High
Population
411,938
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tucson, AZ
Pros
37% less violent crime than Tulsa
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 49°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.5% vs 5.8%)
Median income trails Tulsa by $4,599/yr
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $44k less ($174,200 vs $218,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.8%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Households earn $4,599 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Tucson
Violent Crime
37% lower
588.8 vs 941.9 per 100k
Tucson
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 93.6°F
Tulsa
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 94.3 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Income
$4,599
$56,648 vs $52,049/yr
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$44k less
$174,200 vs $218,200
Tulsa
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tucson, AZ | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.3 | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $218,200 | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $991 | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,049 | $56,648 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.5%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer | 248⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 32.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Tucson Unified District (4403) | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer | 93.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.1" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 8.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,033 ✓ Larger | 411,938 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.9% | 52.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.2% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tucson's cost of living index is 94.3 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 12 of 23 categories. Tucson wins 12 and Tulsa wins 11. 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 Tucson to Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($218,200 vs $174,200 median home), income ($52,049 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tucson, AZ and Tulsa, OK are about 898 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.