City comparison
No. Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 72 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,164 in Lexington.
Safety is where Tulsa and Lexington split most clearly. Lexington scores 134 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 $1,164 in Lexington.
Neither city has a clear overall edge here. Tulsa costs less and Lexington 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 crime gap is citywide. Lexington has rougher pockets and Tulsa has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Tulsa and Lexington are 647 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,164 a month in Lexington, up $112 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $69,479 in Lexington, up $9,641 (16%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 102 in Lexington, down 134 points (57%).
The move
Lexington and Tulsa are 647 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,164 a month in Lexington to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $112 a month (10%).
Median household income goes from $69,479 in Lexington to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $9,641 (14%).
The crime index goes from 102 in Lexington to 236 in Tulsa, up 134 points (131%).
Tulsa, OK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Lexington, KY
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Tulsa and Lexington? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
10% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 10% cheaper than Lexington
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Lexington
$1,164/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,164 in Lexington, 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 $1,344, 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 Lexington.
Planning to buy in Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
16% higher
Lexington's median income is 16% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa
$59,838
Lexington
Winner$69,479
Median household income is $69,479 in Lexington versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 16% higher in Lexington (about $9,641 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, Lexington 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
57% lower crime
Lexington's crime index is 57% lower than Tulsa
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Lexington
Winner102 (100 = avg)
Lexington's crime index is 102 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 57% lower in Lexington. 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, Lexington 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
44% more comfortable
Tulsa weather is 44% more comfortable than Lexington
Tulsa
Winner62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Lexington
52°F avg · 63°F highs · comfort 64/100
Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs); Lexington averages about 52°F (63°F highs). Tulsa averages around 62°F. Lexington averages around 52°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tulsa scores 44% 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 Lexington 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 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.
Pick Tulsa if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (62°F) beat Lexington on this page's weather index by 44%. Lexington 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
Lexington is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 16% higher here ($69,479). Start with Lexington if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Lexington is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 57% lower than Tulsa (102 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
Tulsa carries the heavier crime signal on this page (34/100 safety vs 59/100 in Lexington). That 25-point spread matters more than the $112 rent gap when you are choosing where to walk after dark.
Safety still diverges (59/100 in Lexington vs 34/100 in Tulsa), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $69,479 in Lexington versus $59,838 in Tulsa.
If safety drives your move, Lexington is the stronger match (59/100 safety versus 34/100). If an employer or family tie already points to Tulsa, treat $1,052/month rent and $59,838 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tulsa and Lexington, plus other cities in OK and KY.
