City comparison
No. Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 236 in Tulsa, and its violent crime index is 279 versus 257, using 2024-2025 FBI data.
Toledo is cheaper. Median rent is $934 a month versus $1,052 in Tulsa.
Climate is the sharpest divide between Tulsa and Toledo. Tulsa averages 62°F while Toledo averages 51°F, a difference that affects utility bills, outdoor lifestyle, and how you feel nine months of the year. Rent runs $1,052 versus $934.
Toledo is not a close call here. It leads on cost of living, the job market, and safety 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 Toledo is the stronger move.
Weather is the one thing you cannot negotiate with. Visit Toledo in its coldest stretch before you sign anything.
The move
Tulsa and Toledo are 768 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $1,052 a month in Tulsa to $934 a month in Toledo, down $118 a month (11%).
Median household income goes from $59,838 in Tulsa to $62,224 in Toledo, up $2,386 (4%).
The crime index goes from 236 in Tulsa to 221 in Toledo, down 15 points (6%).
The move
Toledo and Tulsa are 768 miles apart in a straight line.
Median rent goes from $934 a month in Toledo to $1,052 a month in Tulsa, up $118 a month (13%).
Median household income goes from $62,224 in Toledo to $59,838 in Tulsa, down $2,386 (4%).
The crime index goes from 221 in Toledo to 236 in Tulsa, up 15 points (7%).
Tulsa, OK
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Toledo, OH
School quality varies by neighborhood. Check GreatSchools.org for current ratings.
Comparing Tulsa and Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide where to buy.
Rent
11% cheaper
Toledo rent is 11% cheaper than Tulsa
Tulsa
$1,052/mo
Toledo
Winner$934/mo
Typical rent runs $934 a month in Toledo versus $1,052 in Tulsa, so Toledo 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 $1,416, enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Toledo still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Tulsa.
Planning to buy in Toledo? Check mortgage rates before you decide.
Median income
4% higher
Toledo's median income is 4% higher than Tulsa
Tulsa
$59,838
Toledo
Winner$62,224
Median household income is $62,224 in Toledo versus $59,838 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 4% higher in Toledo (about $2,386 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
6% lower crime
Toledo's crime index is 6% lower than Tulsa
Tulsa
236 (100 = avg)
Toledo
Winner221 (100 = avg)
Toledo's crime index is 221 versus 236 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 6% lower in Toledo. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Toledo, but you will usually spend less energy on constant vigilance than you would in Tulsa. Tour both cities after dark before you let a modest index gap close the decision.
Typical weather
51% more comfortable
Tulsa weather is 51% more comfortable than Toledo
Tulsa
Winner62°F avg · 69°F highs · comfort 92/100
Toledo
51°F avg · 58°F highs · comfort 61/100
Tulsa averages about 62°F (69°F highs); Toledo averages about 51°F (58°F highs). Tulsa averages around 62°F. Toledo averages around 51°F, so jackets, heating bills, and shorter outdoor seasons are part of daily life. Tulsa scores 51% 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 Toledo 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
Pick Tulsa if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (62°F) beat Toledo on this page's weather index by 51%. Toledo 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
Toledo is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 11% cheaper here at about $934 a month. Choose Toledo if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.
Toledo is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 4% higher here ($62,224). Start with Toledo if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.
Toledo is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 6% lower than Tulsa (221 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 runs 62°F typical weather against 51°F in Toledo (comfort scores 92 vs 61). Housing is $1,052/month versus $934/month, so this decision is lifestyle-weighted as much as financial.
With only $118 separating typical rent, run both offer letters before housing cost alone picks the city.
Safety scores read 34/100 in Tulsa and 36/100 in Toledo.
Pick Toledo when 51°F is the daily environment you want. Otherwise, Tulsa's case rests on 62°F you prefer and $1,052 rent you can sustain.
Common questions
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Next steps
Quotes and listings for Toledo when you're ready to act.
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Nearby research
Open full neighborhood reports for Tulsa and Toledo, plus other cities in OK and OH.
