Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tulsa, OK
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Tulsa leads 16 of 23 categories
Tulsa
Oklahoma
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High
Population
411,938 ✓ Larger
Waterbury
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (5.8%)
Rent averages $182/mo less ($958 vs $1,140)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 32.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,197 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
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
Waterbury, CT
Pros
66% less violent crime than Tulsa
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 5.8%)
Median income trails Tulsa by $5,197/yr
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Tulsa
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Income
$5,197
$56,648 vs $51,451/yr
Tulsa
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
5.8% vs 9.8% unemployment
Tulsa
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 84.0°F
Waterbury
Violent Crime
66% lower
322.5 vs 941.9 per 100k
Waterbury
Median Home Value
$11k less
$162,800 vs $174,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tulsa, OK | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $174,200 | $162,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $958 ✓ Lower | $1,140 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,648 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.1:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | TULSA | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 37.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 411,938 ✓ Larger | 114,480 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.3% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tulsa's cost of living index is 89.5 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tulsa leads 16 of 23 categories. Tulsa wins 16 and Waterbury wins 7. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($174,200 vs $162,800 median home), income ($56,648 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tulsa, OK and Waterbury, CT are about 1,282 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.