City comparison
No. Newark's crime index is 136 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 159 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $1,392 in Newark.
Safety is where Tulsa and Newark split most clearly. Newark scores 100 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 $1,392 in Newark.
Tulsa is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. Newark makes sense if you have a specific reason, a job offer, family, or a neighborhood you already know, but on the numbers alone Tulsa is the stronger move.
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 Newark are 1,219 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $1,392 a month in Newark, up $340 a month (32%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $52,060 in Newark, down $7,778 (13%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 136 in Newark, down 100 points (42%).
The move
Newark and Tulsa are 1,219 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,392 a month in Newark to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $340 a month (24%).
Median household income goes from $52,060 in Newark to $59,838 in Tulsa, up $7,778 (15%).
The crime index goes from 136 in Newark to 236 in Tulsa, up 100 points (74%).
Tulsa, OK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Newark, NJ
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Tulsa and Newark? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
24% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 24% cheaper than Newark
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Newark
$1,392/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $1,392 in Newark, so Tulsa is 24% cheaper. That's roughly $340/month back in your pocket ($4,080/year). Over five years that's $20,400 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 Newark, 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
15% higher
Tulsa's median income is 15% higher than Newark
Tulsa
Winner$59,838
Newark
$52,060
Median household income is $59,838 in Tulsa versus $52,060 in Newark, so typical pay runs 15% higher in Tulsa (about $7,778 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, Tulsa is the stronger labor market on paper. Newark can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.
Crime index
42% lower crime
Newark's crime index is 42% lower than Tulsa
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Newark
Winner136 (100 = avg)
Newark's crime index is 136 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 42% lower in Newark. 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, Newark 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
33% more comfortable
Tulsa weather is 33% more comfortable than Newark
Tulsa
Winner62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Newark
54°F avg · 60°F highs · comfort 69/100
Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs); Newark averages about 54°F (60°F highs). Tulsa averages around 62°F. Newark averages around 54°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tulsa scores 33% 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 Newark if you already prefer its hotter or cooler pattern and have budgeted for the AC or heating that comes with it.
Fit check
Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access
Tulsa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 24% 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.
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 15% higher ($59,838), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 62°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Fit check
Families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy
Newark is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 42% lower than Tulsa (136 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 Newark: Newark scores 51/100 versus 34/100 in Tulsa, with typical rent at $1,392 versus $1,052. I would vet the exact ZIP in Tulsa before trading 17 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (51/100 in Newark vs 34/100 in Tulsa), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Weather averages land near 62°F in Tulsa and 54°F in Newark.
Newark 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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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tulsa and Newark, plus other cities in OK and NJ.
