City comparison
Yes. Tucson's crime index is 156 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 146 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,145 in Tucson.
Safety is where Tucson and Tulsa split most clearly. Tucson scores 80 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,145 in Tucson and $1,052 in Tulsa.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Tulsa is the easier city on typical rent, but Tucson can still be the better daily fit depending on schools, safety, and climate. Both are defensible choices for different reasons.
The crime gap is citywide. Tucson has rougher pockets and Tulsa has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Tucson and Tulsa are 895 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,145 a month in Tucson to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $93 a month (8%).
Median household income goes from $57,073 in Tucson to $59,838 in Tulsa, up $2,765 (5%).
The crime index goes from 156 in Tucson to 236 in Tulsa, up 80 points (51%).
The move
Tulsa and Tucson are 895 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,145 a month in Tucson, up $93 a month (9%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $57,073 in Tucson, down $2,765 (5%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 156 in Tucson, down 80 points (34%).
Tucson, AZ
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 Tucson and Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
8% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 8% cheaper than Tucson
Tucson
$1,145/mo
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,145 in Tucson, so Tulsa is 8% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $93, or $1,116 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
5% higher
Tulsa's median income is 5% higher than Tucson
Tucson
$57,073
Tulsa
Winner$59,838
Median household income is $59,838 in Tulsa versus $57,073 in Tucson, so typical pay runs 5% higher in Tulsa (about $2,765 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
34% lower crime
Tucson's crime index is 34% lower than Tulsa
Tucson
Winner156 (100 = avg)
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Tucson's crime index is 156 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 34% lower in Tucson. 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, Tucson is the easier city. Tulsa can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
9% more comfortable
Tucson weather is 9% more comfortable than Tulsa
Tucson
Winner77°F avg · 84°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tulsa
62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Tucson averages about 77°F (84°F highs); Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs). Tucson sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Tulsa averages around 62°F. Tucson scores 9% 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
Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing
Pick Tucson if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (77°F) beat Tulsa on this page's weather index by 9%. Tulsa may pay more or cost less, but Tucson is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Tucson is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 34% lower than Tulsa (156 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
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Tulsa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 8% 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 city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 5% higher here ($59,838). Start with Tulsa if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Bottom line
Neither city is a free pass on neighborhood choice, but Tucson leads on safety (46/100 vs 34/100 in Tulsa). Typical rent is $1,145 in Tucson and $1,052 in Tulsa; do not assume the cheaper lease buys the calmer blocks.
Safety still diverges (46/100 in Tucson vs 34/100 in Tulsa), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $59,838 in Tulsa versus $57,073 in Tucson.
Most movers who prioritize safety land in Tucson; Tulsa only makes sense when you have walked the Tulsa ZIP you would rent and accept the trade for $1,052 rent.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tucson and Tulsa, plus other cities in AZ and OK.
