Fayetteville vs Tulsa
Compare Fayetteville, AR and Tulsa, OK on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,010/mo in Fayetteville and $982/mo in Tulsa, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,121/mo and $1,128/mo. Across the four public-data screens (cost/climate, work, daily life, community) the metros land close together (247 vs 237 summed points), so the right pick depends on which tradeoffs you can live with.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 89°F and 93°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Tulsa; if walkable daily life matters more, Tulsa screens stronger on the walkability proxy (7 vs 4). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Tulsa leads 75 to 72 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Fayetteville leads 45 to 35 on the daily life screen.
Both cities are close on the community screen.
$85,000 in Fayetteville is roughly $141,157 in Tulsa using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Fayetteville | Tulsa | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,010/mo | $982/mo | Tulsa |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,121/mo | $1,128/mo | Fayetteville |
| Median home value | $243,000 | $188,000 | Tulsa |
| State income tax | 3.9% | 4.5% | Fayetteville |
| Average commute | 22.6 min | 23.7 min | Fayetteville |
| Safety score | 27/100 | 40/100 | Tulsa |
| School score | 7/10 | 5/10 | Fayetteville |
| Walkability estimate | 4/100 | 7/100 | Tulsa |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 186.3 | 176.4 | Fayetteville |
| Mountain distance | 43 mi | 40 mi | Tulsa |
| Coast distance | 423 mi | 445 mi | Fayetteville |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 43/100 | 35/100 | Fayetteville |
| Drought risk percentile (NRI) | 29th | 84th | Fayetteville |
| Winter weather risk percentile (NRI) | 90th | 61th | Tulsa |
| Earthquake risk percentile (NRI) | 61th | 38th | Tulsa |
What stands out
Fayetteville stronger signals
- Trail access within 11 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 106 miles
- Mountain access within 43 miles
Fayetteville tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Tulsa stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Mountain access within 40 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
- Shorter average commute
Tulsa tradeoffs
- Lower safety score than stronger alternatives
Common questions
Is Fayetteville cheaper than Tulsa?
On public benchmarks Tulsa is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,010/mo in Fayetteville vs $982/mo in Tulsa; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,121/mo vs $1,128/mo; state income tax is 3.9% vs 4.5%.
Is Fayetteville or Tulsa safer?
Tulsa screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 27/100 for Fayetteville and 40/100 for Tulsa (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Fayetteville or Tulsa?
School screens show 7/10 for Fayetteville vs 5/10 for Tulsa, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Fayetteville and Tulsa?
Fayetteville: summer highs near 89°F, winter lows near 25°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Tulsa: 93°F / 27°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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