City comparison
No. Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 121 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Tulsa is cheaper. Median rent is $1,052 a month versus $2,082 in Santa Ana.
The income gap between Tulsa and Santa Ana is significant: $59,838 median household versus $93,999. That spread matters more if you are job hunting locally than if you are remote. Typical rent is $1,052 in Tulsa and $2,082 in Santa Ana.
Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana are 1,247 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $2,082 a month in Santa Ana, up $1,030 a month (98%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $93,999 in Santa Ana, up $34,161 (57%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 107 in Santa Ana, down 129 points (55%).
The move
Santa Ana and Tulsa are 1,247 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $2,082 a month in Santa Ana to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, down $1,030 a month (49%).
Median household income goes from $93,999 in Santa Ana to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $34,161 (36%).
The crime index goes from 107 in Santa Ana to 236 in Tulsa, up 129 points (121%).
Tulsa, OK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Santa Ana, CA
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Tulsa and Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
49% cheaper
Tulsa rent is 49% cheaper than Santa Ana
Tulsa
Winner$1,052/mo
Santa Ana
$2,082/mo
Typical rent runs $1,052 a month in Tulsa versus $2,082 in Santa Ana, so Tulsa is 49% cheaper. That's roughly $1,030/month back in your pocket ($12,360/year). Over five years that's $61,800 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 Santa Ana, 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 Santa Ana? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
57% higher
Santa Ana's median income is 57% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa
$59,838
Santa Ana
Winner$93,999
Median household income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 57% higher in Santa Ana (about $34,161 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, Santa Ana 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
55% lower crime
Santa Ana's crime index is 55% lower than Tulsa
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana
Winner107 (100 = avg)
Santa Ana's crime index is 107 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 55% lower in Santa Ana. 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, Santa Ana 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
9% more comfortable
Santa Ana weather is 9% more comfortable than Tulsa
Tulsa
62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Santa Ana
Winner77°F avg · 83°F highs · comfort 100/100
Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs); Santa Ana averages about 77°F (83°F highs). Tulsa averages around 62°F. Santa Ana sits near 77°F on average, a range where people can be outside without fighting extreme heat or cold. Santa Ana scores 9% 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 49% 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 57% higher ($93,999), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two (around 77°F). That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.
Santa Ana is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 55% lower than Tulsa (107 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 $2,082 in Santa Ana. Median income reads $59,838 in Tulsa and $93,999 in Santa Ana, which matters when you stack rent against take-home pay.
Tulsa rent at $1,052/month is still below Santa Ana's $2,082, so cost-sensitive households should weigh the lease before the paycheck.
Median income is $93,999 in Santa Ana versus $59,838 in Tulsa.
If housing cost drives your move, Tulsa is the stronger match ($1,052/month rent against $2,082). If an employer or family tie already points to Santa Ana, treat $2,082/month rent and $93,999 income as the numbers that actually govern the decision.
Common questions
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tulsa and Santa Ana, plus other cities in OK and CA.
