City comparison
Yes. Tulsa's crime index is 236 versus 352 in St Louis, and its violent crime index is 257 versus 376, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
St Louis is cheaper. Median rent is $997 a month versus $1,052 in Tulsa.
Safety is where Tulsa and St Louis split most clearly. Tulsa scores 116 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 $997 in St Louis.
Tulsa is not a close call here. It leads on the job market, safety, and weather by margins that add up in daily life. St Louis 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 crime gap is citywide. Tulsa has rougher pockets and St Louis has quiet ones: the index tells you the average, not your block.
The move
Tulsa and St Louis are 361 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $997 a month in St Louis, down $55 a month (5%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $56,160 in St Louis, down $3,678 (6%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 352 in St Louis, up 116 points (49%).
The move
St Louis and Tulsa are 361 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $997 a month in St Louis to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, up $55 a month (6%).
Median household income goes from $56,160 in St Louis to $59,838 in Tulsa, up $3,678 (7%).
The crime index goes from 352 in St Louis to 236 in Tulsa, down 116 points (33%).
Tulsa, OK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
St Louis, MO
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Tulsa and St Louis? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
5% cheaper
St Louis rent is 5% cheaper than Tulsa
Tulsa
$1,052/mo
St Louis
Winner$997/mo
Typical rent runs $997 a month in St Louis versus $1,052 in Tulsa, so St Louis is 5% cheaper. The monthly spread is about $55, or $660 a year: noticeable, but rent alone should not pick the city. Use this as a tie-breaker after you compare income, schools, and crime, unless you are already stretching every dollar.
Planning to buy in Tulsa? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
7% higher
Tulsa's median income is 7% higher than St Louis
Tulsa
Winner$59,838
St Louis
$56,160
Median household income is $59,838 in Tulsa versus $56,160 in St Louis, so typical pay runs 7% higher in Tulsa (about $3,678 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
33% lower crime
Tulsa's crime index is 33% lower than St Louis
Tulsa
Winner236 (100 = avg)
St Louis
352 (100 = avg)
Tulsa's crime index is 236 versus 352 in St Louis (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 33% lower in Tulsa. 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, Tulsa is the easier city. St Louis can still work if you pick the right pocket. Just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.
Typical weather
15% more comfortable
Tulsa weather is 15% more comfortable than St Louis
Tulsa
Winner62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
St Louis
58°F avg · 67°F highs · comfort 80/100
Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs); St Louis averages about 58°F (67°F highs). Tulsa averages around 62°F. St Louis averages around 58°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tulsa scores 15% 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 St Louis 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
It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 7% 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.
Tulsa is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 33% lower than St Louis (236 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.
Fit check
People with a job, family, or neighborhood already pulling them to St Louis
St Louis is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 5% cheaper here at about $997 a month. Choose St Louis if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Bottom line
Crime and safety tilt toward Tulsa: Tulsa scores 34/100 versus 22/100 in St Louis, with typical rent at $1,052 versus $997. I would vet the exact ZIP in St Louis before trading 12 safety points for housing savings.
Safety still diverges (34/100 in Tulsa vs 22/100 in St Louis), so climate preference should not be the only filter.
Median income is $59,838 in Tulsa versus $56,160 in St Louis.
Tulsa clears the bar on safety in this dataset. St Louis deserves a serious look only when you already know the St Louis 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 St Louis, plus other cities in OK and MO.
