Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Tulsa, OK
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 14 of 22 categories
Tulsa
Oklahoma
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,648
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High
Population
411,938 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$58,908 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $144k less ($174,200 vs $318,600)
Rent averages $255/mo less ($958 vs $1,213)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Wilmington
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
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.9%)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
49% less violent crime than Tulsa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.9%)
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 49°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Tulsa
Key Differences at a Glance
Tulsa
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$144k less
$174,200 vs $318,600
Tulsa
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 90.0°F
Wilmington
Median Income
$2,260
$58,908 vs $56,648/yr
Wilmington
Violent Crime
49% lower
482.8 vs 941.9 per 100k
Wilmington
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.9% vs 5.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Tulsa, OK | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $174,200 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $958 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,648 | $58,908 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 218⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.1:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.0% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | TULSA | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 8.7" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 411,938 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.3% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 24.0% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Tulsa's cost of living index is 89.5 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Tulsa is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 14 of 22 categories. Tulsa wins 8 and Wilmington wins 14. 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($174,200 vs $318,600 median home), income ($56,648 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Tulsa, OK and Wilmington, NC are about 1,025 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.