The Town FilesTulsa, Oklahoma
City in Tulsa County · population 413,066 (2020 Census) · spans 4 counties
- Median home
- $205,300
- Household income
- $59,838
- Jan low / Jul high
- 28° / 94°
- Snow a year
- 9 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 77
- Median age
- 35.6
Tulsa is a city of 413,066 people in Tulsa County, Oklahoma. The median home is worth $205,300, above the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). It ranks more walkable than 99% of Oklahoma towns, more vibrant than 99% of Oklahoma towns, better transit than 98% of Oklahoma towns.
How Tulsa ranks
Percentile among Oklahoma towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Oklahoma towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Tulsa is worth $205,300, above the typical Oklahoma town ($122,500). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $59,838, which is more affordable than 10% of Oklahoma towns. Median rent is $1,052 a month. 51.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Tulsa | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $205,300 | $122,500 |
| Median rent | $1,052 | $830 |
| Median household income | $59,838 | $54,111 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 2.4× |
| Homeownership | 51.9% | 68.5% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.6% | — |
Who lives in Tulsa
| People | Tulsa | Typical Oklahoma town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 | 37.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.3% | 16.5% |
| Under 18 | 24.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.6% | 16.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.7% | 18.8% |
| Veterans | 5.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 12.3% | — |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 5.7% |
| Average commute | 18.9 min | 22.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 86.0% |
Weather in Tulsa
July highs average 93.6°F and January lows 28.0°F. About 41.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 8.7 inches of snow (typical Oklahoma town: 4.4 in). Expect about 74 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 72 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
77 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tulsa since 1950, compared with 33 for the typical Oklahoma town. 21 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 24, 1993 about 4.3 miles from the town center and killed 7. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 328 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 370 times; the largest was 4.50 inches on May 10, 1963.
Severe weather in Tulsa County since 1996
Tulsa County has been included in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 19, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4721: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| June 29, 2022 | Severe Storm | DR-4657: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| February 24, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4587: Severe Winter Storms |
| February 17, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3555: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4530: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Tulsa County
Tulsa County had 368,636 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,561 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Tulsa itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Tulsa
103 public schools with 54,332 students, about 18.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNION HS | 10-12 | 3,516 | 22.5 |
| UNION 6TH-7TH GRADE CTR | 6-7 | 2,177 | 16.9 |
| BOOKER T. WASHINGTON HS | 9-12 | 1,285 | 21.8 |
| EAST CENTRAL HS | 9-12 | 1,189 | 22.4 |
| THOMAS EDISON PREPARATORY HS | 9-12 | 1,089 | 21.8 |
| NATHAN HALE HS | 9-12 | 1,067 | 22.2 |
| WILL ROGERS COLLEGE HS | 9-12 | 1,037 | 20.3 |
| MEMORIAL HS | 9-12 | 1,023 | 20.9 |
| NORTHWEST ES | PK-4 | 1,000 | 15.9 |
| ELLEN OCHOA ES | PK-5 | 910 | 15.4 |
| East Central Middle School | 6-8 | 908 | 21.1 |
| SOUTHEAST ES | PK-4 | 832 | 17.0 |
Towns near Tulsa
- Catoosa, OK8.2 mi · 7,440 people · home $178,800
- Turley, OK9.0 mi · 2,607 people · home $54,600
- Broken Arrow, OK9.3 mi · 113,540 people · home $250,400
- Jenks, OK9.8 mi · 25,949 people · home $327,100
- Owasso, OK11.6 mi · 38,240 people · home $243,100
- Bixby, OK12.7 mi · 28,609 people · home $334,200
- Sand Springs, OK12.8 mi · 19,874 people · home $197,700
- Glenpool, OK13.6 mi · 13,691 people · home $201,700
Tulsa questions
Is Tulsa, Oklahoma a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Tulsa scores better for retirees than 7% of Oklahoma towns and quieter than 1%. 15.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.6).
How much does a house cost in Tulsa?
The median owner-occupied home in Tulsa is valued at $205,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $59,838, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is $1,052 a month.
What is the weather like in Tulsa?
July highs average 93.6°F and January lows 28.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.0 inches of precipitation a year and 8.7 inches of snow.
Does Tulsa get tornadoes?
77 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Tulsa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 24, 1993. The typical Oklahoma town has had 33.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)