What it's like to live in Tulsa
Tulsa is a large city in Oklahoma with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, unemployment below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Tulsa deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and larger class sizes than the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment
- Short commutes
- Several well-rated hospitals
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- High poverty rate
- Hot summers
How Tulsa compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Tulsa
Based on Tulsa's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,104
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $42,080 a year
- 44% of Tulsa renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$41,060
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $20,530
- Homes cost 3.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 26% below US
$1,052/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $1,052 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $205,300. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $205,300 · 44% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 19% below US
3.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.5%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 153% above US
833 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 3427/100k · Tulsa Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 27% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.9 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 92°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 30°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
13 hospitals
There are 13 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.7 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
34% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 34% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
102 public schools inside the boundary
There are 102 public schools inside the boundary and 29 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Fort Smith National Historic Site (97 miles away).
Bottom line
Tulsa's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,052/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Tulsa
All Oklahoma guides →Not sure Tulsa is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.