C

Tulsa, OK

Source:

Affordability Score: 56/100

Population: 413,574 · 28 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Tulsa, OK aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 28 ZIP codes covering 413,574 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C (56/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $61,607, median home value of $215,156, median rent of $1,058 per month, and 31.8% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,217 per month (studio $933, 1BR $987, 3BR $1,602, 4BR $1,858). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $11,247 per year, consuming 18% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for Tulsa, OK include commute. Pressure points are childcare. Unemployment currently reads 6.2% and poverty 18.9% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income D
$61,607
Median household income
Education C-
31.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C-
3.5x
Home value $215,156 vs income
Commute B+
19 min
Average commute time
Rent B-
$1,217/mo
2BR fair market rent (24% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare F
$11,247/yr
Center-based infant care (18% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$61,607
▼ 1% vs national
Per Capita Income
$38,093
Unemployment Rate
6.2%
Poverty Rate
18.9%

Housing

Median Home Value
$215,156
▼ 22% vs national
Median Rent
$1,058/mo
Owner Occupied
53.3%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,217/mo
▲ 1% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$933
1BR
$987
2BR
$1,217
3BR
$1,602
4BR
$1,858

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
31.8%
▲ 2 ppt vs national
High School+
57.5%
Median Age
36.3
Avg. Commute
19 min
▼ 7 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$11,247/yr
18% of income
Toddler (Center)
$9,732/yr
Preschool (Center)
$9,732/yr
School-Age (Center)
$6,363/yr

What This Means

Tulsa, OK receives an overall affordability grade of C (56/100), aggregated from 28 ZIP codes with a total population of 413,574. This area performs well in commute. Challenges include childcare. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Tulsa ZIP Codes
View all 28 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
View ZIPs →

What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Tulsa, OK affordable?
Tulsa, OK receives an overall affordability grade of C (56/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $61,607. Median home value is $215,156.
What is the cost of living in Tulsa?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,058/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,217/mo. Infant childcare $11,247/yr. Median home value $215,156.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →