City comparison
No. Durham's crime index is 193 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 163 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,508 in Durham.
The income gap between Tulsa and Durham is significant: $59,838 median household versus $81,619. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,052 in Tulsa and $1,508 in Durham.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Tulsa costs less and Durham 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
Tulsa and Durham are 953 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,508 a month in Durham, up $456 a month (43%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $81,619 in Durham, up $21,781 (36%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 193 in Durham, down 43 points (18%).
The move
Durham and Tulsa are 953 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,508 a month in Durham to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $456 a month (30%).
Median household income goes from $81,619 in Durham to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $21,781 (27%).
The crime index goes from 193 in Durham to 236 in Tulsa, up 43 points (22%).
Tulsa, OK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Durham, NC
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Tulsa and Durham? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
30% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 30% cheaper than Durham
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Durham
$1,508/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,508 in Durham, so Tulsa is 30% cheaper. That's roughly $456/month back in your pocket ($5,472/year). Over five years that's $27,360 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 Durham, 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
36% higher
Durham's median income is 36% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa
$59,838
Durham
Winner$81,619
Median household income is $81,619 in Durham versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 36% higher in Durham (about $21,781 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, Durham 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
18% lower crime
Durham's crime index is 18% lower than Tulsa
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Durham
Winner193 (100 = avg)
Durham's crime index is 193 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 18% lower in Durham. 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, Durham 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
11% more comfortable
Tulsa weather is 11% more comfortable than Durham
Tulsa
Winner62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Durham
59°F avg · 68°F highs · comfort 83/100
Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs); Durham averages about 59°F (68°F highs). Tulsa averages around 62°F. Durham averages around 59°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tulsa scores 11% 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 Durham 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
Tulsa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 30% 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.
Pick Tulsa if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (62°F) beat Durham on this page's weather index by 11%. Durham may pay more or cost less, but Tulsa is the city where the forecast fights you less.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth
Durham is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 36% higher here ($81,619). Start with Durham if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Durham is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 18% lower than Tulsa (193 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
Housing separates these metros first: $1,052/month in Tulsa versus $1,508 in Durham. Median income reads $59,838 in Tulsa and $81,619 in Durham, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Tulsa rent at $1,052/month is still below Durham's $1,508, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Safety scores read 34/100 in Tulsa and 40/100 in Durham.
Tulsa clears the bar on housing cost in this dataset. Durham deserves a serious look only when your $81,619 income offer in Durham outweighs saving $456/month in Tulsa.
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