City comparison
No. Tulsa's crime index is 236 versus 282 in Nashville, and its violent crime index is 257 versus 309, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,586 in Nashville.
The cost gap between Nashville and Tulsa is the real story here. Tulsa comes in 34% cheaper on typical rent ($1,586 vs $1,052), which over a year adds up to $6,408. Median household income runs $77,371 in Nashville and $59,838 in Tulsa.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Tulsa costs less and Nashville pays more: the right call depends on whether you are optimizing for take-home pay or monthly burn rate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The rent gap is real but neighborhoods matter. Tulsa at $1,052 average has pockets that run $852 and others at $1,452: your actual number depends on which part of the city you land in.
The move
Nashville and Tulsa are 513 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,586 a month in Nashville to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $534 a month (34%).
Median household income goes from $77,371 in Nashville to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $17,533 (23%).
The crime index goes from 282 in Nashville to 236 in Tulsa, down 46 points (16%).
The move
Tulsa and Nashville are 513 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,586 a month in Nashville, up $534 a month (51%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $77,371 in Nashville, up $17,533 (29%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 282 in Nashville, up 46 points (19%).
Nashville, TN
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 Nashville and Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
34% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 34% cheaper than Nashville
Nashville
$1,586/mo
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,586 in Nashville, so Tulsa is 34% cheaper. That's roughly $534/month back in your pocket ($6,408/year). Over five years that's $32,040 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Nashville, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Tulsa is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.
Planning to buy in Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
29% higher
Nashville's median income is 29% higher than Tulsa
Nashville
Winner$77,371
Tulsa
$59,838
Median household income is $77,371 in Nashville versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 29% higher in Nashville (about $17,533 more household income a year). Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Nashville is the stronger labor market on paper. Tulsa can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
16% lower crime
Tulsa's crime index is 16% lower than Nashville
Nashville
282 (100 = avg)
Tulsa
Winner236 (100 = avg)
Tulsa's crime index is 236 versus 282 in Nashville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 16% lower in Tulsa. That gap is meaningful day-to-day. It affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Tulsa is the easier city. Nashville can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
5% more comfortable
Nashville weather is 5% more comfortable than Tulsa
Nashville
Winner64°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 97/100
Tulsa
62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Nashville averages about 64°F (74°F highs); Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs). Nashville averages around 64°F. Tulsa averages around 62°F. Nashville scores 5% 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 Tulsa if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 29% higher ($77,371), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 64°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Tulsa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 34% 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.
Tulsa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 16% lower than Nashville (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
Rent is the clearest fork: Tulsa at $1,052/month versus $1,586 in Nashville ($534 apart). Nashville median income is $77,371 against $59,838 in Tulsa, so the cheaper lease does not always pair with the stronger local wage base.
Tulsa rent at $1,052/month is still below Nashville's $1,586, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 28/100 in Nashville and 34/100 in Tulsa.
Tulsa clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Nashville deserves a serious look only when your $77,371 income offer in Nashville outweighs saving $534/month in Tulsa.
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