1st Advantage MortgageThe median Tulsa County household earns $69,009, and 15% of residents live below the poverty line. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Tulsa County, OK: the basics
- Paychecks and income spread in Tulsa County
- Tulsa County housing compared with Oklahoma
- Employment and commuting in Tulsa County
- Places inside Tulsa County
- The counties around Tulsa County
- Budget math at the Tulsa County median
- Before borrowing in Tulsa County
- Tulsa County households compared
- Checking a lender's license in Oklahoma
- Before you sign
- More guides for Tulsa County
- Frequently asked questions
Tulsa County, OK: the basics
With an estimated 680,794 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Tulsa County ranks 2nd of 77 in Oklahoma for population. Land area is 570 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1,194 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Tulsa, OK metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 14 Census places inside Tulsa County, Tulsa leads by population with about 413,794; 11 of the 14 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in Tulsa County
At $69,009, the typical Tulsa County household income is 5% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 10th among Oklahoma's 77 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Tulsa County | +/- vs Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.0% | -2.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.3% | -0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.3% | +1.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.4% | +2.2 pts |
The spread is wide: 34% of Tulsa County households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. 14.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 15.3%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.483 here. A household earning below the $69,009 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Tulsa County housing compared with Oklahoma
Renters in Tulsa County pay a median of $1,110 a month, 9% above the Oklahoma figure of $1,014. By the Census definition, 46% of Tulsa County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $230,400, about 3.3 times the median household income. 60% of Tulsa County households own their home and 40% rent. Median construction year: 1979.
| Measure | Tulsa County | Oklahoma | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,110/mo | $1,014/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $230,400 | $199,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 60% | 66% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 46% | 46% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 24% | n/a |
Employment and commuting in Tulsa County
The biggest employer of Tulsa County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 22% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (11%). Compared with Oklahoma, the county leans toward professional and administrative services (11% against 9%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.4% in Tulsa County. 5% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 11% work from home. Only 6.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Tulsa County | Gap to Oklahoma |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.5% | -0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.5% | +2.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.2% | -0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.6% | +1.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.1% | +0.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.1% | -0.2 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Places inside Tulsa County
The table lists the 14 largest of 14 Census places in Tulsa County, by population. Together all 14 hold about 701,230 people, so roughly 0% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $42,298 in Turley to $111,004 in Jenks. Median rent ranges from $854 in Sperry to $1,602 in Jenks. 2 of them have a separate city guide (linked). For the rest, this is the local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa | city | 413,794 | $59,838 | $1,052 | 2 mi |
| Broken Arrow | city | 118,180 | $86,765 | $1,320 | 11 mi |
| Owasso | city | 40,151 | $79,036 | $1,270 | 13 mi |
| Bixby | city | 30,155 | $104,404 | $1,393 | 13 mi |
| Jenks | city | 27,102 | $111,004 | $1,602 | 9 mi |
| Sapulpa | city | 22,570 | $63,817 | $1,057 | 13 mi |
| Sand Springs | city | 20,117 | $75,645 | $1,002 | 11 mi |
| Glenpool | city | 14,151 | $79,525 | $1,370 | 12 mi |
| Skiatook | city | 8,632 | $57,480 | $961 | 16 mi |
| Turley | CDP | 2,968 | $42,298 | $1,092 | 9 mi |
| Oakhurst | CDP | 2,175 | $57,222 | $872 | 7 mi |
| Sperry | town | 1,066 | $49,583 | $854 | 13 mi |
| Leonard | CDP | 165 | $48,958 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Lotsee | town | 4 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
The counties around Tulsa County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (26 to 41 miles). 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Tulsa County; Wagoner County is highest at $81,207 and Okmulgee County lowest at $54,029.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tulsa County | - | $69,009 | $1,110/mo | 60% |
| Rogers County, OK | 26 mi | $80,067 | $1,047/mo | 78% |
| Wagoner County, OK | 26 mi | $81,207 | $1,068/mo | 81% |
| Creek County, OK | 29 mi | $62,338 | $936/mo | 74% |
| Okmulgee County, OK | 33 mi | $54,029 | $834/mo | 70% |
| Washington County, OK | 40 mi | $60,162 | $907/mo | 72% |
| Mayes County, OK | 41 mi | $60,305 | $858/mo | 74% |
Budget math at the Tulsa County median
Tulsa County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $69,009 a year is $5,751 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $1,110 uses 19%
- At 35%, room after rent is $903 a month
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,478 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Tulsa County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Before borrowing in Tulsa County
Where the Tulsa County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Uninsured care. 13% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- Tight rental budgets. With 46% of Tulsa County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Tulsa County households compared
College graduates make up 34% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 13.3%, against 12.9% for Oklahoma.
| Residents | Tulsa County | Oklahoma | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.0 | 37.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.4% | 28.3% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.1% | 10.6% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.3% | 12.9% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.3% | 5.6% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.5% | 9.4% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.7% | 15.3% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 5.0% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 50.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.3% |
| 60+ min | 3.0% |
Checking a lender's license in Oklahoma
Before sharing details with a lender, a Tulsa County resident can confirm its license with the Oklahoma State Banking Department. Consumer lending in Oklahoma is also overseen by the Oklahoma Department of Consumer Credit. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Oklahoma: Oklahoma personal loans.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- A Oklahoma license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Ask a Tulsa County credit union about member loans.
More guides for Tulsa County
City guides inside Tulsa County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
Is Tulsa County a high-income county?
Its $69,009 median ranks 10th of 77 Oklahoma counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Tulsa County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,110 against $1,014 statewide, and 46% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Tulsa County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Owasso, Bixby, Jenks and 9 more.
Is the fit check different in Tulsa County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Tulsa County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Oklahoma it is the Oklahoma State Banking Department.