Living in Tulsa, Oklahoma | Jason Gilbert Real Estate
Living in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Welcome to
Tulsa

Oklahoma's Urban Hub — Culture, Art & Affordability

410K+City Population
$200KMedian Home
World-ClassGathering Place Park
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Tulsa At A Glance

Tulsa By The Numbers

410,000+City Population
$200,000Median Home Price
20 minAvg Commute
Multiple OptionsSchool Districts
10% BelowNational Cost of Living
~1.06%Property Tax Rate
4 miTo Tulsa Int'l Airport
$52,000Median Household Income
Why Tulsa

Why People Love Living Here

Historic Art Deco architecture downtown
Nationally acclaimed Gathering Place park
Thriving arts and music scene
Midtown and Brookside dining corridors
Affordable historic homes with character
Proximity to Fortune 500 employers
Strong cultural institutions & museums
Urban lifestyle at Midwest prices
Talk to Jason

Gathering Place

Ranked among the best parks in the US — this $465M riverside destination is free and open to all Tulsans year-round.

Brookside District

Miles of locally-owned restaurants, boutiques, and bars along Peoria Avenue — Tulsa's most walkable and beloved neighborhood.

Art Deco Legacy

Tulsa has one of the finest Art Deco building collections in the world, centered on its historic downtown core.

Midtown Revival

Midtown is experiencing a renaissance — renovated bungalows, new restaurants, and rising values make it the smart buy right now.

Cost of Living

What It Costs to Live Well in Tulsa

🏠

Housing

Median ~$200K. Historic Midtown bungalows from $180K–$400K. South Tulsa newer builds $280K–$600K+. Extraordinary value vs. any comparable city.

Utilities

Average monthly $160–$210. PSO electric and ONG gas serve most of Tulsa. Summer cooling costs are the largest variable.

Gas & Groceries

Some of the lowest gas prices in the nation. Grocery costs 10–15% below national average. Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Reasor's all represented.

🏫

Childcare

Tulsa has invested heavily in early childhood — pre-K widely available. Full-time infant/toddler care averages $800–$1,100/month.

🏥

Healthcare

Saint Francis, Ascension St. John, and OSU Medical Center provide top-tier care. Healthcare costs below national median.

🎭

Entertainment

Tulsa PAC, BOK Center, Cain's Ballroom, Drillers baseball, Roughnecks soccer, TU athletics — a full calendar at fraction of big-city prices.

What Your Budget Gets You in Tulsa
$200K

3 bed, 1–2 bath Midtown bungalow. Original hardwood floors, character, walkable neighborhood. Cosmetic updates likely needed.

$350K

3–4 bed updated home in Brookside or South Midtown. Modern kitchen, renovated bath, move-in ready, walkable street.

$600K

4–5 bed luxury in South Tulsa or premium Midtown. Custom finishes, dedicated office, pool potential, high walkability score.

Neighborhoods

Best Neighborhoods
in Tulsa

Midtown Tulsa
$180K–$500K
SchoolTPS/Edison zone
ProsHistoric charm, walkable, fast appreciation
ConsSome streets still transitioning
BuyerUrban professionals, renovators
Brookside
$220K–$550K
SchoolEdison Prep zone
ProsMost walkable in Tulsa, great dining, character homes
ConsPremium pricing, limited parking
BuyerYoung professionals, foodies
Cherry Street
$200K–$450K
SchoolTulsa Public
ProsEclectic, artistic, restaurant row atmosphere
ConsOlder infrastructure in spots
BuyerArtists, creatives, urban lovers
South Tulsa
$280K–$700K
SchoolUnion/Jenks zones
ProsNewer construction, family areas, safer streets
ConsCar-dependent, suburban feel
BuyerFamilies, corporate relocatees
Maple Ridge
$300K–$800K
SchoolTPS/Edison zone
ProsHistoric luxury, grand homes, near PAC
ConsOlder systems in some homes
BuyerExecutives, architecture enthusiasts
The Pearl District
$180K–$380K
SchoolTulsa Public
ProsEmerging hot neighborhood, fast appreciation, artists
ConsStill transitioning in places
BuyerEarly buyers, investors, creatives
Education

Tulsa Schools

Boundaries and ratings change — always verify before purchasing. Jason provides updated boundary maps for every address.

Edison Preparatory (Magnet)A
Holland Hall (Private)A+
Metro Christian AcademyA (Private)
Cascia Hall (Private)A
Union High School (S. Tulsa)A
McLain HS for ScienceB+

School Choice

TPS offers magnet and specialty schools — Edison Prep, KIPP, and others draw students from across the city through competitive application.

Private Options

Holland Hall, Metro Christian, and Cascia Hall offer exceptional private education. Montessori and faith-based schools also serve the area.

University Presence

University of Tulsa (TU) and Oral Roberts University (ORU) contribute to the city's intellectual, cultural, and employment fabric.

Early Childhood Leader

Tulsa has been a national leader in early childhood education investment — pre-K access is among the best of any city its size in the US.

Real Estate Market

The Tulsa Housing Market

01

Average Sale Price

Citywide median ~$200K, but varies dramatically — Brookside commands a premium while East Tulsa offers significant entry-level value.

02

Days on Market

Desirable Midtown and Brookside homes selling in 14–21 days. Less desirable or overpriced properties sit 60–90 days.

03

Historic Home Market

Tulsa's bungalow and craftsman market is strong. Buyers willing to renovate can acquire significant equity — often the best value play in the city.

04

Luxury Market

Maple Ridge, Gilcrease Hills, and South Tulsa luxury ($500K–$2M+) serves executives and long-term Tulsans trading up.

05

Investment Properties

Tulsa's rental market is strong — TU/ORU students, young professionals, and healthcare workers create demand. Cap rates often exceed coastal markets.

06

New Construction

Limited within city proper. South Tulsa and near-suburb zones have the most new build activity for buyers preferring new construction.

Lifestyle

Things to Do in Tulsa

🍽️

Top Restaurants

  • Juniper Restaurant
  • The Vault
  • Polo Grill
  • In The Raw Sushi
  • Burn Co. BBQ
  • Smoke on Cherry Street

Coffee Culture

  • Topeca Coffee
  • Cirque Coffee
  • Shades of Brown
  • Brown Bag Bakery
  • Chimera Café
🌿

Parks & Culture

  • Gathering Place
  • Philbrook Museum
  • Gilcrease Museum
  • River Parks Trail
  • Woodward Park & Gardens
🎭

Entertainment

  • BOK Center Concerts
  • Cain's Ballroom
  • Tulsa PAC
  • Drillers Baseball
  • Tulsa Arts District Events
Economy

Jobs & Economy
in Tulsa

Tulsa benefits from proximity to Tulsa's major employment base. Remote workers, healthcare professionals, and energy sector employees are among the fastest-growing resident groups.

American Airlines MROAviation Maintenance
Saint Francis Health SystemHealthcare
BOK FinancialBanking & Finance
Williams CompaniesEnergy
ONEOKNatural Gas Pipeline
QuikTrip CorporationRetail HQ
Economic Snapshot
$52KMedian Household Income
4.1%Unemployment Rate
Fortune 500sMultiple HQs in Metro
8%5-Year Job Growth
Transportation

Getting Around Tulsa

🚗

Highway Network

I-44, US-75, US-169, and US-64 converge in Tulsa. The IDL (Inner Dispersal Loop) connects all quadrants of the city.

✈️

Airport

Tulsa International is minutes from Midtown — one of the most convenient metro airports in the country for frequent flyers.

🚌

Public Transit

MTTA bus network covers most of the city and connects to suburbs. A car remains essential for most commuters.

🚴

Bike & Walk

River Parks trail spans both banks of the Arkansas River. Midtown and Brookside are among the most walkable areas in all of Oklahoma.

🛣️

IDL Projects

IDL improvements and the Tulsa Innovation District infrastructure build-out will reshape downtown connectivity through 2027.

🚖

Rideshare

Uber and Lyft are well-represented throughout Tulsa — particularly in Midtown, Brookside, and the entertainment districts.

Honest Assessment

Pros & Cons of Tulsa

✦ The Pros
Extraordinary affordability for a city of its size and quality
World-class Gathering Place park — free and open to all
Art Deco architecture unmatched in the Midwest
Thriving restaurant, arts, and music scene
Major employers across energy, healthcare, aviation, and finance
20-minute average commute is genuinely real
◇ The Cons
Oklahoma summers are intense — heat index regularly above 100°F
Public transportation is limited — a car is required for most errands
Tornado risk April–June requires active preparedness
Some Tulsa neighborhoods are still significantly transitioning
Public school quality varies widely by zone — research carefully before buying
Coming Soon

New Developments
in Tulsa

Tulsa Innovation Labs

Major tech and entrepreneurship hub in the Brady Arts District — attracting remote workers, startups, and venture capital.

East Village Development

Residential and mixed-use projects transforming the underutilized east edge of downtown into a walkable live-work district.

Gathering Place Phase II

Additional programming and river amenities expanding one of America's best urban parks further south along the Arkansas.

36 Degrees North Expansion

Tulsa's flagship startup hub is growing — more coworking, accelerator programming, and tech company attraction underway.

Historic Greenwood Revival

Investment continues flowing into the Greenwood District — home of historic Black Wall Street — with new businesses and cultural landmarks.

Pearl District Buildout

New restaurants, boutiques, and residential projects filling in Tulsa's fastest-appreciating emerging neighborhood.

Local Intelligence

What Locals Know
Newcomers Don't

01

South Tulsa vs. Midtown: Know Which You Are

South Tulsa is safer, newer, and suburban. Midtown has character, walkability, and faster appreciation. Know which lifestyle you want before you choose a neighborhood.

02

Gathering Place Changed Real Estate

Neighborhoods nearest Gathering Place — River West, Riverview, and West Tulsa — are appreciating faster than anywhere else in the city. Still undervalued relative to what's coming.

03

The Pearl District Is the Next Brookside

The Pearl District (around 11th & Peoria) is emerging fast. Restaurants and boutiques are filling in monthly — early buyers are already seeing equity gains.

04

Edison Prep Changes the School Equation

Families in 'lesser' school zones can still access top-tier education through Tulsa's magnet system. Edison Prep admission is competitive but open citywide.

05

Historic Homes Are the Value Play

A renovated 1920s Midtown craftsman often outperforms a new build in appreciation. Tulsa's historic housing stock is deeply undervalued relative to comparable US cities.

06

Cain's Ballroom Is a National Treasure

Ask any Tulsan about Cain's and watch their face light up. The historic ballroom on N. Main hosts national acts in a 1,500-person intimate venue — a reason locals stay.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tulsa FAQ

Is Tulsa safe?

+

Safety varies significantly by neighborhood. Midtown, South Tulsa, Brookside, and Cherry Street are considered safe with low crime. Some north and east Tulsa areas have higher crime rates. Jason provides specific neighborhood safety data before any purchase.

How does Tulsa's cost of living compare?

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Tulsa is approximately 10–15% below the national average overall, and 30–50% below comparable coastal cities. Housing is the biggest differentiator — you get significantly more home for your dollar.

What are property taxes like?

+

Effective rate ~1.0–1.1%. A $200,000 home typically carries $2,000–$2,200/year — one of the lowest effective rates in the country for a city this size.

Is Tulsa actually growing?

+

Yes. Gathering Place, the Tulsa Remote program, Innovation District development, and corporate relocations have created real, sustained momentum.

Which Tulsa neighborhood is best for families?

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South Tulsa (Union and Jenks school zones) is most popular for families with school-age children. Midtown suits families prioritizing walkability and neighborhood character.

What's the job market like?

+

Energy, healthcare, finance, and aviation dominate. The Tulsa Remote program has brought thousands of remote professionals — making it increasingly attractive for location-independent workers.

Is Tulsa a good investment?

+

For long-term investors, Tulsa offers strong rental demand, low vacancy rates, and improving appreciation — particularly in Midtown, near Gathering Place, and the Pearl District.

What's the weather really like?

+

Four distinct seasons. Summers are hot (90s–100s°F). Winters are mild with occasional ice storms. Spring brings tornado season — having a storm shelter is important and widely expected.

Free Download

Free Tulsa
Relocation Guide

Everything you need before making your move — free to your inbox
Neighborhood Breakdown
School Information
Cost of Living Guide
Home Price Analysis
New Construction Areas
Local Secrets & Shortcuts
Your Agent

About Jason Gilbert

JG
Jason Gilbert Real Broker, LLC · Tulsa Specialist

Jason Gilbert isn't just a real estate agent who sells homes in Tulsa — he's a specialist who lives and breathes this market. Whether you're relocating from out of state or moving across town, Jason's deep local knowledge helps you avoid the expensive mistakes most buyers make when they don't know the area.

"I don't just show houses. I help people understand neighborhoods, trends, and the things Zillow won't tell you — so they make smart decisions for their family's future."

Jason works with first-time buyers, luxury clients, relocating professionals, and growing families throughout Tulsa and the greater Tulsa Metro. Consultations are free, confidential, and built around your goals.

Serving: Tulsa · Broken Arrow · Bixby · Jenks · Owasso · Coweta · Wagoner

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918.340.8941