Methodology and Goals

What cities are we studying?


The 10 peer cities in Tulsa'a region that were chosen to compare to Tulsa for this study are:

  • Forth Worth
  • Memphis
  • St. Louis
  • Kansas City
  • Oklahoma City
  • Little Rock
  • Austin
  • Omaha
  • Albuquerque
  • Wichita

What are we looking for?


The measures of economic vitality which Tulsa was compared to were (click on the measurement to learn more):

  1. Poverty Level: % of people whose income falls below 2008 percent of the federal poverty level
  2. Cost of Living: the cost to live as a % if the national average
  3. Housing Affordability: the share of homes considered affordable for a family earning the local median income
  4. Education: % of people 25 or older with at least a bachelor's degree
  5. Transit: difference in the # of people moving into and out of the region
  6. Target Population-1: % of population age 20 to 64
  7. Target Population-2: # of people age 65 and over for every 100 people in Target Population-1
  8. Total Jobs: total # of full and part time jobs
  9. Knowledge Jobs: % of employed managers and professionals
  10. Creative Jobs: % employed as scientists, artists, engineers, architects, and designers
  11. Average Annual Wage: total wages divided by # of jobs
  12. Per Capita Income: total personal income divided by population
  13. Metro GDP: total value of goods and services produced in the metro area
  14. Unemployment: % of workforce actively seeking work
  15. Venture Capital: amount invested in start-up firms and small businesses with high growth potential