Is Tulsa cheaper than Irving?

Yes. Typical rent in Tulsa is $1,217 a month versus $1,931 in Irving — 37% cheaper. Median household income is $56,648 in Tulsa compared with $76,686 in Irving, so Irving has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Tulsa or Irving?

Irving is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 110 in Tulsa — 1% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Tulsa or Irving?

School composites are close: A- in Tulsa and A- in Irving. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Tulsa, OK vs Irving, TX

Tulsa, OK versus Irving, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,217 a month in Tulsa and $1,931 in Irving, and median household income lands at $56,648 versus $76,686. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Tulsa takes affordability and weather, while Irving takes job market and safety. The widest gap is rent, where Tulsa leads by 37% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Tulsa can feel further apart than Tulsa and Irving do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Tulsa and Irving reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Tulsa report Full Irving report

Tulsa, OK

Rent: $1,217/mo
Median income: $56,648
Crime index: 110
Schools: A-
Weather: 87°F

Irving, TX

Rent: $1,931/mo
Median income: $76,686
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 93°F

Rent

37% cheaper

Tulsa rent is 37% cheaper than Irving

Tulsa

Winner

$1,217/mo

Irving

$1,931/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,217 a month in Tulsa versus $1,931 in Irving, so Tulsa is 37% cheaper. That's roughly $714/month back in your pocket — $8,568/year. Over five years that's $42,840 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 Irving, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Tulsa is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

35% higher

Irving's median income is 35% higher than Tulsa

Tulsa

$56,648

Irving

Winner

$76,686

What this means for your life

Median household income is $76,686 in Irving versus $56,648 in Tulsa, so typical pay runs 35% higher in Irving — about $20,038 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, Irving 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

1% lower crime

Irving's crime index is 1% lower than Tulsa

Tulsa

110 (100 = avg)

Irving

Winner

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Irving's crime index is 109 versus 110 in Tulsa (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 1% lower in Irving. The difference is noticeable without being night-and-day. You will still want to pick the neighborhood carefully in Irving, 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.

School scores

Neck and neck

Tulsa and Irving are about even on school scores.

Tulsa

A- · 84/100

Irving

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Tulsa, A- in Irving). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

35% more comfortable

Tulsa weather is 35% more comfortable than Irving

Tulsa

Winner

87°F typical

Irving

93°F typical

What this means for your life

Tulsa scores 35% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 87°F in Tulsa and 93°F in Irving. Tulsa reads as hot, long summers; Irving reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Tulsa is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Irving can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Tulsa

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Tulsa is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 37% cheaper here at about $1,217 a month. Choose Tulsa if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Tulsa if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (87°F) beat Irving on this page's weather index by 35%. Irving may pay more or cost less, but Tulsa is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Open the Tulsa report →

Fit check

Who should choose Irving

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Irving is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 35% higher here ($76,686). Start with Irving if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Irving is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 1% lower than Tulsa (109 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.

Open the Irving report →

Bottom line

Tulsa vs Irving, called

If cost of living is your priority, Tulsa is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Irving pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Tulsa offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Tulsa vs Irving FAQ

Is Tulsa cheaper than Irving?: Yes. Typical rent in Tulsa is $1,217 a month versus $1,931 in Irving — 37% cheaper. Median household income is $56,648 in Tulsa compared with $76,686 in Irving, so Irving has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Tulsa or Irving?: Irving is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 109 versus 110 in Tulsa — 1% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Tulsa or Irving?: School composites are close: A- in Tulsa and A- in Irving. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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