City comparison
Yes. Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 209 in Louisville, and its violent crime index is 197 versus 207, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Louisville is cheaper. Median rent is $1,120 a month versus $1,130 in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma City and Louisville 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 $1,130 in Oklahoma City and $1,120 in Louisville, and median household income lands at $68,656 versus $66,849. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
Oklahoma City is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Louisville makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Oklahoma City 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
Oklahoma City and Louisville are 677 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City to $1,120 a month in Louisville, down $10 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $68,656 in Oklahoma City to $66,849 in Louisville, down $1,807 (3%).
The crime index goes from 183 in Oklahoma City to 209 in Louisville, up 26 points (14%).
The move
Louisville and Oklahoma City are 677 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,120 a month in Louisville to $1,130 a month in Oklahoma City, up $10 a month (1%).
Median household income goes from $66,849 in Louisville to $68,656 in Oklahoma City, up $1,807 (3%).
The crime index goes from 209 in Louisville to 183 in Oklahoma City, down 26 points (12%).
Oklahoma City, OK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Louisville, KY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Oklahoma City and Louisville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
1% cheaper
Louisville rent is 1% cheaper than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City
$1,130/mo
Louisville
Winner$1,120/mo
Typical rent runs $1,120 a month in Louisville versus $1,130 in Oklahoma City, so Louisville is 1% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $10, or $120 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 Oklahoma City? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
3% higher
Oklahoma City's median income is 3% higher than Louisville
Oklahoma City
Winner$68,656
Louisville
$66,849
Median household income is $68,656 in Oklahoma City versus $66,849 in Louisville, so typical pay runs 3% higher in Oklahoma City (about $1,807 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
12% lower crime
Oklahoma City's crime index is 12% lower than Louisville
Oklahoma City
Winner183 (100 = avg)
Louisville
209 (100 = avg)
Oklahoma City's crime index is 183 versus 209 in Louisville (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 12% lower in Oklahoma City. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Oklahoma City, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Louisville. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
19% more comfortable
Oklahoma City weather is 19% more comfortable than Louisville
Oklahoma City
Winner61°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 89/100
Louisville
56°F avg · 65°F highs · comfort 75/100
Oklahoma City averages about 61°F (69°F highs); Louisville averages about 56°F (65°F highs). Oklahoma City averages around 61°F. Louisville averages around 56°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Oklahoma City scores 19% 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 Louisville 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 3% higher ($68,656), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 61°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Oklahoma City is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 12% lower than Louisville (183 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Louisville
Louisville is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 1% cheaper here at about $1,120 a month. Choose Louisville if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Weather separates these metros: $1,130/month rent in Oklahoma City at 61°F versus $1,120 in Louisville at 56°F. Income runs $68,656 vs $66,849, but the daily feel of the move is the temperature gap.
Louisville rent at $1,120/month is still below Oklahoma City's $1,130, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $68,656 in Oklahoma City versus $66,849 in Louisville.
Oklahoma City wins on climate (61°F vs 56°F); Louisville is the better fit if $1,120 rent and $66,849 pay matter more than daily weather.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Oklahoma City and Louisville, plus other cities in OK and KY.
