City comparison
No. Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 127 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,171 in Huntsville.
Safety is where Tulsa and Huntsville split most clearly. Huntsville scores 102 points better on the crime index, a gap that shows up in evening walks, parking situations, and insurance rates. Rent runs $1,052 in Tulsa and $1,171 in Huntsville.
Huntsville is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Tulsa makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Huntsville is the stronger move.
The crime gap is citywide. Huntsville has rougher pockets and Tulsa has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Tulsa and Huntsville are 538 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,171 a month in Huntsville, up $119 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $74,714 in Huntsville, up $14,876 (25%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 134 in Huntsville, down 102 points (43%).
The move
Huntsville and Tulsa are 538 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,171 a month in Huntsville to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $119 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $74,714 in Huntsville to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $14,876 (20%).
The crime index goes from 134 in Huntsville to 236 in Tulsa, up 102 points (76%).
Tulsa, OK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Huntsville, AL
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Tulsa and Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 10% cheaper than Huntsville
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Huntsville
$1,171/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,171 in Huntsville, so Tulsa is 10% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $1,428, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Tulsa still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Huntsville.
Planning to buy in Huntsville? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
25% higher
Huntsville's median income is 25% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa
$59,838
Huntsville
Winner$74,714
Median household income is $74,714 in Huntsville versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 25% higher in Huntsville (about $14,876 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, Huntsville 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
43% lower crime
Huntsville's crime index is 43% lower than Tulsa
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Huntsville
Winner134 (100 = avg)
Huntsville's crime index is 134 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 43% lower in Huntsville. 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, Huntsville 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
2% more comfortable
Huntsville weather is 2% more comfortable than Tulsa
Tulsa
62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Huntsville
Winner63°F avg · 74°F highs · comfort 94/100
Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs); Huntsville averages about 63°F (74°F highs). Tulsa averages around 62°F. Huntsville averages around 63°F. Huntsville scores 2% 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
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to Tulsa
Tulsa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 10% 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.
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 25% higher ($74,714), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 63°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Huntsville is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 43% lower than Tulsa (134 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
Safety is the widest gap: Huntsville scores 51/100 versus 34/100 in Tulsa. Rent is $1,171/month in Huntsville and $1,052/month in Tulsa, so you are not buying calm streets for free.
Tulsa rent at $1,052/month is still below Huntsville's $1,171, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Typical rent stays $1,052 in Tulsa and $1,171 in Huntsville.
Huntsville is ahead on safety (51/100 vs 34/100); Tulsa is still viable when you have a vetted ZIP there and $1,052/month rent plus $59,838 income fit your budget better than the safety margin.
Common questions
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