Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tulsa, OK
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Tulsa leads 14 of 23 categories
Tulsa
Oklahoma
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High
Population
411,938 ✓ Larger
Vallejo
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,132
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $341k less ($174,200 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $936/mo less ($958 vs $1,894)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $29,464/yr
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
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,464 more per year on average
21% less violent crime than Tulsa
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 49°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Tulsa
Key Differences at a Glance
Tulsa
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$341k less
$174,200 vs $515,500
Tulsa
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.0% unemployment
Tulsa
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 85.4°F
Vallejo
Median Income
$29,464
$86,112 vs $56,648/yr
Vallejo
Violent Crime
21% lower
739.8 vs 941.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tulsa, OK | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $174,200 ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $958 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,648 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | TULSA | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 411,938 ✓ Larger | 125,132 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.3% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tulsa's cost of living index is 89.5 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 14 of 23 categories. Tulsa wins 14 and Vallejo wins 9. 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 Tulsa to Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($174,200 vs $515,500 median home), income ($56,648 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tulsa, OK and Vallejo, CA are about 1,454 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.