City comparison
No. Lubbock's crime index is 189 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 221 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,182 in Lubbock.
Tulsa and Lubbock 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 $1,052 in Tulsa and $1,182 in Lubbock, and median household income lands at $59,838 versus $60,895. Use the category rows below to see which gaps would change your daily life.
This is a genuine split. Tulsa wins on cost of living and Lubbock wins on the job market and safety. Which matters more depends entirely on how you live: remote workers and families weight these categories differently than commuters or single professionals.
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
Tulsa and Lubbock are 377 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,182 a month in Lubbock, up $130 a month (12%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $60,895 in Lubbock, up $1,057 (2%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 189 in Lubbock, down 47 points (20%).
The move
Lubbock and Tulsa are 377 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,182 a month in Lubbock to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $130 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $60,895 in Lubbock to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $1,057 (2%).
The crime index goes from 189 in Lubbock to 236 in Tulsa, up 47 points (25%).
Tulsa, OK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Lubbock, TX
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Tulsa and Lubbock? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 11% cheaper than Lubbock
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Lubbock
$1,182/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,182 in Lubbock, so Tulsa is 11% 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 $1,560, 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 Lubbock.
Planning to buy in Lubbock? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
2% higher
Lubbock's median income is 2% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa
$59,838
Lubbock
Winner$60,895
Median household income is $60,895 in Lubbock versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 2% higher in Lubbock (about $1,057 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
20% lower crime
Lubbock's crime index is 20% lower than Tulsa
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Lubbock
Winner189 (100 = avg)
Lubbock's crime index is 189 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 20% lower in Lubbock. 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, Lubbock 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
Neck and neck
Tulsa and Lubbock are about even on typical weather.
Tulsa
62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Lubbock
62°F avg · 70°F highs · comfort 92/100
Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs); Lubbock averages about 62°F (70°F highs). Tulsa averages around 62°F. Lubbock averages around 62°F. On daily comfort these two are close enough that the better fit is whichever season you already know you can live with.
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 11% 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 and professional growth
Lubbock is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 2% higher here ($60,895). Start with Lubbock if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Lubbock is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 20% lower than Tulsa (189 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
Crime and safety tilt toward Lubbock: Lubbock scores 41/100 versus 34/100 in Tulsa, with typical rent at $1,182 versus $1,052. I would vet the exact ZIP in Tulsa before trading 7 safety points for housing savings.
With only $130 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Median income is $60,895 in Lubbock versus $59,838 in Tulsa.
Lubbock clears the bar on safety in this dataset. Tulsa deserves a serious look only when you already know the Tulsa block you would live on and the safety gap is acceptable.
Common questions
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Next steps
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tulsa and Lubbock, plus other cities in OK and TX.
