Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tulsa, OK
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 West Covina leads 12 of 23 categories
Tulsa
Oklahoma
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High
Population
411,938 ✓ Larger
West Covina
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $490k less ($174,200 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $1096/mo less ($958 vs $2,054)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Median income trails West Covina by $39,571/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
West Covina, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,571 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Tulsa
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 49°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Tulsa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Tulsa
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$490k less
$174,200 vs $664,500
Tulsa
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.7% unemployment
Tulsa
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 90.3°F
West Covina
Median Income
$39,571
$96,219 vs $56,648/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
75% lower
239.3 vs 941.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tulsa, OK | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $174,200 ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $958 ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,648 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 29.8% |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | TULSA | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 411,938 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.3% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tulsa's cost of living index is 89.5 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Covina leads 12 of 23 categories. Tulsa wins 11 and West Covina 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 Tulsa to West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($174,200 vs $664,500 median home), income ($56,648 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tulsa, OK and West Covina, CA are about 1,250 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.