City comparison
No. Tulsa's crime index is 236 versus 266 in Milwaukee, and its violent crime index is 257 versus 375, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,059 in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee and Tulsa are closer on paper than many city pairs, so the move comes down to how you weight cost, safety, and climate. Typical rent sits near $1,059 in Milwaukee and $1,052 in Tulsa, and median household income lands at $54,234 versus $59,838. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Tulsa is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Milwaukee makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Tulsa is the stronger move.
Visit both if you can. Cities reveal themselves in the ordinary moments, a Tuesday morning commute, a Saturday errand run, not on a weekend visit.
The move
Milwaukee and Tulsa are 641 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,059 a month in Milwaukee to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $7 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $54,234 in Milwaukee to $59,838 in Tulsa, up $5,604 (10%).
The crime index goes from 266 in Milwaukee to 236 in Tulsa, down 30 points (11%).
The move
Tulsa and Milwaukee are 641 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,059 a month in Milwaukee, up $7 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $54,234 in Milwaukee, down $5,604 (9%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 266 in Milwaukee, up 30 points (13%).
Milwaukee, WI
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Tulsa, OK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Milwaukee and Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 1% cheaper than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$1,059/mo
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,059 in Milwaukee, so Tulsa is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $7, or $84 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
10% higher
Tulsa's median income is 10% higher than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
$54,234
Tulsa
Winner$59,838
Median household income is $59,838 in Tulsa versus $54,234 in Milwaukee, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Tulsa (about $5,604 more household income a year). The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.
Crime index
11% lower crime
Tulsa's crime index is 11% lower than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
266 (100 = avg)
Tulsa
Winner236 (100 = avg)
Tulsa's crime index is 236 versus 266 in Milwaukee (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 11% lower in Tulsa. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Tulsa, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Milwaukee. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
28% more comfortable
Tulsa weather is 28% more comfortable than Milwaukee
Milwaukee
55°F avg · 61°F highs · comfort 72/100
Tulsa
Winner62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Milwaukee averages about 55°F (61°F highs); Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs). Milwaukee averages around 55°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tulsa averages around 62°F. Tulsa scores 28% closer to the 65-80°F comfort band on this page, so it is the easier default for year-round outdoor errands and evenings. Choose Milwaukee if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Milwaukee
On these five categories Tulsa takes the scoreboard, so you should not choose Milwaukee because the stats are kinder. They are not. Choose Milwaukee only if a job offer, family, a specific neighborhood, or a life you already started there outweighs the box score. Plenty of good moves ignore the aggregate; just do it on purpose.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Tulsa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,052 a month. Choose Tulsa if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 10% higher ($59,838), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 62°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Tulsa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 11% lower than Milwaukee (236 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.
Bottom line
Milwaukee (55°F) and Tulsa (62°F) are not interchangeable on climate — about 7°F apart on typical temperatures. Rent ($1,059 vs $1,052) and pay ($54,234 vs $59,838) still matter, yet most movers regret ignoring the forecast row.
Median income is $59,838 in Tulsa versus $54,234 in Milwaukee.
Pick Milwaukee when 55°F is the daily environment you want. Otherwise, Tulsa's case rests on 62°F you prefer and $1,052 rent you can sustain.
Safety scores read 30/100 in Milwaukee and 34/100 in Tulsa.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Tulsa when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Milwaukee and Tulsa, plus other cities in WI and OK.
