Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tulsa, OK
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 13 of 21 categories
Tulsa
Oklahoma
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5
Median Household Income
$56,648
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High
Population
411,938 ✓ Larger
Wichita
Kansas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5
Median Household Income
$60,712 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
395,951
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 44°F
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
Median income trails Wichita by $4,064/yr
Wichita, KS
Pros
43% less violent crime than Tulsa
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Households earn $4,064 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 89.5 on the COL index
Wichita
Median Income
$4,064
$60,712 vs $56,648/yr
Wichita
Violent Crime
43% lower
538.6 vs 941.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tulsa, OK | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 | 89.5 |
| Median Home Value | $174,200 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $958 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,648 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 18.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.1:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | TULSA | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer | 92.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 411,938 ✓ Larger | 395,951 |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.3% | 58.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.0% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tulsa's cost of living index is 89.5 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Wichita leads 13 of 21 categories. Tulsa wins 8 and Wichita wins 13. 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 Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($174,200 vs $166,400 median home), income ($56,648 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tulsa, OK and Wichita, KS are about 134 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.