CityFunIndex
51 / 100

The Fun Score™

Tulsa, OK

Fun

T#73 of 134 in the US tied with 1 other city

#1 of 2 in Oklahoma

A solid spread of things to see, eat and do.

Strongest on Sports (88), Unique Hangouts (76) and Drinks (69).

Watch for elevated Weather Extremes (88) and Crime (74).

Beats #1 Despite ranking T#73 nationally, Tulsa beats Portland, ME on Higher Education (62 vs 8) — and is calmer on Going-Out Cost (65 vs 41).

Tulsa scores 51 out of 100 — one number built from 16 things that make a city fun and 7 that wear it down. How is this calculated?

Where Tulsa lands on the scale

Every city is graded on the same 0–100 Fun Score, split into five bands from quiet to exceptional — here is where Tulsa sits.

How the Fun Score adds up

The Fun Score is one number with two halves — 16 things that make Tulsa fun, minus 7 that wear it down. Here is the arithmetic.

Fun factors –

16 things that lift the score, blended onto 0–100

Drawbacks –

7 things that wear it down, blended onto 0–100

Fun factors lift it
–
Drawbacks pull it down
–
Raw composite
–
Fun Score placed on the published 0–100 scale
–

Only 40% of the drawback total is subtracted — even a great city can carry a few flaws. Every factor below spells its contribution out as an equation — score times weight. Those 23 contributions are the building blocks behind the two totals above (each is rounded for display).

The Fun breakdown

Every factor is scored 0–100 against the other cities in the index.

Tulsa's strongest factors are Sports, Unique Hangouts and Drinks. Its heaviest drawbacks are Weather Extremes, Crime and Disaster Risk.

On every bar, the marker shows the typical city — the median score across the whole index.

What lifts the score

  • Eats –

    Restaurants, food halls and the depth of the dining scene.

    Measured from OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.

  • Drinks –

    Bars, breweries, cocktail rooms and the nightlife spread.

    Measured from OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.

  • Coffee –

    Cafés and the strength of the third-place coffee culture.

    Measured from OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.

  • Live Music –

    Music venues and how often live shows actually happen.

    Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues.

  • Star Power –

    Notable people the city is known for, plus headliner acts that tour through.

    Measured from SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended).

  • Outdoors –

    Parks, beaches and easy access to nature.

    Measured from OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities.

  • Culture –

    Museums, theatres, galleries and arts institutions.

    Measured from OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.

  • Events –

    Festivals, fairs and a packed year-round events calendar.

    Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events.

  • Sports –

    Pro and college teams and the game-day energy around them.

    Measured from Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres.

  • Unique Hangouts –

    Escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke spots.

    Measured from OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality.

  • City Vibe –

    How much the city is talked about and searched for — news and search attention.

    Measured from GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged).

  • Climate –

    How often the weather is good enough to get outside.

    Measured from NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days.

  • Transit Quality –

    How well a person without a car can move around the city.

    Measured from GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share.

  • Walkability –

    Density of fun within walking distance — sidewalks, intersections, mixed-use blocks.

    Measured from EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city).

  • Higher Education –

    Density of college and university students — the engine behind a college town.

    Measured from NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data.

  • Bike & Micromobility –

    Protected bike lanes and a working public bikeshare system.

    Measured from OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog.

What weighs it down

  • Crime –

    Reported violent and property crime rates.

    Measured from FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals.

  • Traffic –

    Congestion and the time lost to commuting.

    Measured from US Census commute-time data (ACS).

  • Air Quality –

    Recent particulate matter and ozone levels — a trailing-week air-quality average.

    Measured from EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average).

  • Disaster Risk –

    Exposure to natural hazards and severe events.

    Measured from FEMA National Risk Index.

  • Weather Extremes –

    Punishing heat, cold and storm extremes.

    Measured from NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data.

  • Economic Strain –

    Cost of living and housing pressure on residents.

    Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate.

  • Going-Out Cost –

    What a typical night out actually costs in this metro.

    Measured from Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services.

Cities like Tulsa

The Tulsa read Free

A written read on Tulsa, grounded in the data

A plain-English analysis of why Tulsa scores the way it does — its standout strengths, where it falls short, who it suits best, and the cities most like it. Every figure is drawn from the same 23 factors on this page: it narrates the measured data, it never invents a number.

With a Fun Score of 51, Tulsa, OK is categorized as a "Fun" city, standing out nationally for its robust sports scene.

Why it scores high

Tulsa truly shines in its offerings for sports enthusiasts and those seeking unique entertainment. The city boasts an impressive Sports score of 88, placing it tied for 13th nationally out of 134 cities. This high score indicates a vibrant landscape for both professional and collegiate games, alongside numerous stadiums, sports centers, and fitness facilities, making it a great place for both spectators and active participants.

Beyond traditional sports, Tulsa offers a strong selection of Unique Hangouts, scoring 76 and ranking 33rd nationally. This suggests a diverse array of options for fun and quirky experiences, from escape rooms and arcades to trampoline parks and karaoke venues, ensuring there's always something different to try.

The city also has a lively Drinks scene, with a score of 69 and a national rank of 42. Residents and visitors can expect a good variety of bars, pubs, nightclubs, and craft breweries or distilleries, providing ample opportunities for socializing and enjoying a night out.

Where it falls short

While Tulsa excels in several areas, it faces challenges in others. The city experiences significant Weather Extremes, scoring a low 12 and ranking tied for 120th nationally. This indicates a climate prone to severe weather events, which can impact daily life and outdoor activities.

Another area for improvement is Transit Quality, which scores a mere 14, placing it tied for 115th nationally. This low score suggests that public transportation options may be limited or inefficient, making it less convenient for residents to get around without a car. Additionally, the city's Crime score of 26 (tied for 99th nationally) indicates a need for enhanced safety measures to improve the overall sense of security for its residents.

Who it's for

Tulsa is ideal for sports fanatics, those who enjoy a diverse range of unique entertainment options, and individuals who appreciate a lively bar and brewery scene. It's a city where you can easily catch a game, explore an escape room, or enjoy a craft beer with friends.

Cities like it

  • Omaha, NE: Similar in its blend of entertainment and community feel.
  • Oklahoma City, OK: Shares a comparable regional context and lifestyle.
  • Kansas City, MO: Offers a similar mix of urban amenities and Midwestern charm.

Sources

  • OpenStreetMap restaurant counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
  • OpenStreetMap bars, pubs, nightclubs and craft breweries/distilleries, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
  • OpenStreetMap café counts, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
  • Ticketmaster and SeatGeek show listings, plus OpenStreetMap music venues
  • SeatGeek headliner popularity and Wikidata notable residents (rank-blended)
  • OpenStreetMap parks, nature reserves, playgrounds and beaches, plus National Park Service units and Recreation.gov federal facilities
  • OpenStreetMap museums, galleries and theatres plus geo-tagged Wikipedia landmarks, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
  • Ticketmaster and SeatGeek festivals, fairs and ticketed events
  • Ticketmaster and SeatGeek pro and college games, plus OpenStreetMap stadiums, sports centres and fitness centres
  • OpenStreetMap escape rooms, arcades, trampoline parks and karaoke venues, with Google Places ratings adjusting for venue quality
  • GDELT news tone and Google Trends search interest (each percentile-ranked, then averaged)
  • NOAA climate normals — counts of comfortable days
  • GTFS schedules via Transit.land, the Federal Transit Administration National Transit Database and US Census ACS B08301 commuter mode share
  • EPA National Walkability Index (block-group resolution, population-weighted to the city)
  • NCES Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) full-time-equivalent enrollment and US Census ACS age cohort data
  • OpenStreetMap protected cycleway segments and the MobilityData GBFS bikeshare-feed catalog
  • FBI Crime Data Explorer and city open-data crime portals
  • US Census commute-time data (ACS)
  • EPA AirNow and OpenAQ pollution readings (seven-day trailing average)
  • FEMA National Risk Index
  • NOAA Storm Events and climate-extremes data
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment, HUD Fair Market Rent and US Census median income plus poverty rate
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics regional Consumer Price Index — food away from home, recreation services and transportation services

This narrative is generated by AI from CityFunIndex's measured data. The Fun Scores, ranks and raw values are computed deterministically; the wording around them is the model's. Verify any figure against the linked city page.

Written by CityFunIndex from the measured Fun Score data — the figures match this page, refreshed with every recompute.

Go deeper

Score it your way → Slide the 23 factors to match what you call fun, and re-rank every city against your own taste. Compare cities → Put Tulsa head-to-head with another city, factor by factor. More fun in Oklahoma → See every Oklahoma city in the index, ranked by Fun Score.

Use the data

Tulsa’s Fun Score and every factor score are available through the licensed CityFunIndex API — clean JSON, metered one call per city record, behind a paid key.

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Citation

CityFunIndex Fun Score for Tulsa, OK: 51/100 (v2.1.0-dev). https://cityfunindex.com/city/tulsa-ok

Press, research and partnership enquiries: media kit · api@cityfunindex.com.

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