396,543
Population
Sunny Days: 227
95100 Affordability
79100 Schools
85100 Diversity
65100 Safety
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Green Country
Tulsa Skyline, Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Downtown Tulsa, Credit: Tulsa Travel
Tulsa Tough , Credit: USA Cycling
Tulsa Pride, Credit: Visit Tulsa
LookyLOO Review of Tulsa
An Interesting Mix
Many of the best things about Tulsa seem to be embedded in affordable family-friendly neighborhoods. While that might be true there is also an active downtown scene with plenty of arts, culture, music, festivals, and tons of bars and restaurants That mix of family vibe and a social center for younger professionals make Tulsa a compelling place.
If you ask locals many will complain about the poor roads but what it is more widely known for is the meth scene. Of course, not all areas of the city are plagued by the scourge but just know that Oklahoma in general and Tulsa in particular wrestle with clearing out the drug.
Lifestyle
Much of Tulsa's lifestyle is as you might expect. It’s an amazing city for families. Kids are safe to ride bikes around their neighborhoods and play outside in yards and most of the parks. People are amiable – so expect a dose of Southern hospitality on day one.
There are however significant unexpected upsides: the arts scene is for real with a great opera, ballet, and symphony offering as much culture as cities significantly larger. The music scene is also excellent with rock and blues acts consistently performing. Whether your tastes run to La Boheme or Justin Bieber it’s happening here. These performing arts venues are all surrounded by a growing foodie scene and plenty of upscale and casual bars/clubs for after the show.
Anyone interested in seeing what the locals do for fun check out the calendar of events.
Worklife
Tulsa was built on oil wealth and while there have been ups and downs in that industry in Tulsa it remains home to the headquarters of several oil-and-gas companies. A major economic diversification effort expanded the area into aerospace, finance, tech, media, and manufacturing. While there are plenty of big businesses in Tulsa the bulk of employment comes from small businesses that make up 80% of the city’s companies. A number of the big corporations, like BOK Financial are in the Central Business District so for anyone looking to avoid the traffic and reputed poor drivers consider living near downtown.
Schools
The Tulsa Public School district receives a "C+" grade on niche.com.
The schools receive higher grades for Clubs/Activities, College Prep, and Diversity.
The district offers open enrollment, which means parents can apply for their children to attend any school within the district so while neighborhood choice matters for convenience, families live in different areas than the schools they send their kiddos to.
Among the highest-performing schools are:
-Booker T. Washington High School is the second highest-rated public school in the state. It receives an "A+" on niche.com with very highly rated Academics and Teachers and College Prep. In addition to academic strength the school is also well known for athletics and the arts. It is the public magnet for the city so students must apply for admittance.
-Tulsa School of Arts and Sciences High School (TSAS) is another gem in the city for grades 6-12, and receives an "A-" on niche.com, with very high grades for Teachers, College Prep, and Diversity. TSAS is a unique charter school with different "houses" for study that allow students to focus on different areas of interest - science, arts, music, and tech. Attendance is free and students are admitted based on availability.
Why You Should Move Here Now?
Stretching A Buck
Tulsa is consistently rated one of the 10 most affordable cities in the country. It’s also often rated of the 10 best real estate markets due to a combination of affordable housing + the high percentage of homes that sell near their list price in case you need to move on. If you’re looking to move from a more expensive place and stretch your bucks in a mid-sized city with arts and energy Tulsa is a great option.
Reviews of Tulsa from Locals
reyoureadyboots
Living in Tulsa
2y ago
✭✭✭
The progressive parts of Tulsa are expensive (downtown, old midtown), so if you are looking for something Austin-esque, I am not sure if $800 will do it. There are however some cheap apartments in Tulsa that some people might say are "ghetto" (offensive term tbh) but they aren't so bad, really. Always look at reviews. If you have questions about specific complexes and neighborhoods people here are helpful.
An important thing to realize is that a lot of people who call themselves "Tulsans" grew up in places like Jenks and Bixby and think anything north of 21st Street is a killing field. So take most of what you hear here with a grain of salt, please.
I live downtown and just about every big building has private security so I don't think you'd have a terrible time finding work.
And also please understand that if you're working private security in Tulsa you're dealing with homeless people. That's just the way it is. Try to understand that they're people too and just because they live in a tent doesn't mean they want to live in one.
For more reviews of what living in Tulsa is like from locals check out: The Reviews
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Living in Tulsa
Neighborhoods in Tulsa
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Arts District
Young Professionals
Downtown is where all the youngsters are living and the Arts District is one of the most popular neighborhoods in the area. Filled with museums, bars and restaurants it’s the perfect neighborhood for those who like the museum-lifestyle or those who simply want close access to great nightlife. Pearl District is another great option for young professionals. Way more artsy than refined (like the Arts District) the Pearl District is blowing up with galleries, breweries and a close walk from Downtown and the East Village neighborhood.
- Arts District
- Pearl District
- Deco District
- Greenwood