Tulsa spreads along the Arkansas River in northeastern Oklahoma, where the plains meet the Ozark foothills. Oil money built the city a century ago, and the Art Deco towers from that boom still stand over downtown.
If you are moving to Tulsa, the best neighborhoods in Tulsa include Downtown for live music, Brookside for walkable dining, and Maple Ridge for historic houses. This guide breaks down seven Tulsa neighborhoods by type of housing, commute, price, and tradeoffs. The rent and price figures here come from Trulia’s neighborhood-level data, broken down by home type and size. Mostly it comes down to how much you want to walk and how far you are willing to drive to work.
Quick Guide: Best neighborhoods in Tulsa for…
- Downtown: best for nightlife, live music, and loft apartments.
- Brookside: best for shopping, dining, and historic houses.
- Cherry Street: best for restaurants, walkable blocks, and Craftsman bungalows.
- Kendall – Whittier: best for arts, murals, and affordable older homes.
- Riverview: best for the riverfront, quick downtown access, and older condos.
- Maple Ridge: best for tree-lined streets, historic mansions, and big lots.
- Hoover: best for quiet south-side living, mid-century ranches, and lower prices.
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At a Glance: Choosing Where to Live in Tulsa
- Central or south. The central neighborhoods put you near walkable strips, the arts, and the river. Head south and you trade the walk for more house and lower prices.
- Historic or newer. Midtown is early-1900s bungalows and grand older homes. The south and east are mid-century ranches and newer builds with garages.
- A driving city, with a few blocks you can walk. Most errands mean a drive, and public transit is Tulsa Transit buses. Downtown, Brookside, and Cherry Street are the main stretches where you can leave the car parked.
Best Neighborhoods in Tulsa: Neighborhood Deep-Dives
Downtown: Nightlife and live music
Brick warehouses and glass towers stand side by side in the Tulsa Arts District, on the north edge of downtown. The neighborhood is known for live music and a walkable night out. You can visit Cain’s Ballroom, a dance hall from the 1920s, to hear touring bands. At Guthrie Green, you can catch a free concert on the lawn. The BOK Center draws the bigger shows a few blocks south.
This is the one part of Tulsa where you can easily get by without a car. Most nights out and errands are a walk, and the Tulsa Transit buses hub downtown. Street parking gets tight near the BOK Center on event nights, so a spot of your own is worth a lot here.
Exposed brick and tall factory windows mark the lofts in the older buildings, and newer mid-rise buildings fill in the rest. One-bedroom condos on the market are compact, about 720 square feet, per Trulia data. Downtown has more rental units than any other neighborhood in Tulsa, around 319, most of them one-bedroom apartments.
The Tradeoff: You get the most walkable blocks in the city, but the fewest houses and yards.
If Not Here, Then… Try Riverview, which keeps you a few minutes from downtown but adds the river and quieter streets.
As of June 2026, based on Trulia data:
- Average rent (1BR Apartment): $1,425.
- Average rent (2BR Apartment): $2,392.
- Average list price (1BR Apartment): $112,000.
See what’s on the market now: rentals in Downtown, Tulsa and homes for sale in Downtown, Tulsa on Trulia.
Learn more about Downtown, Tulsa on Trulia for local reviews and more neighborhood data.
Brookside: Shopping and dining strip
Peoria Avenue runs the length of Brookside, lined with shops, patios, and storefronts a few miles south of downtown. It is one of the busiest walkable strips in the city, and the blocks fill up on weekend evenings. Behind the avenue, quiet residential streets start almost right away, so you can walk to dinner and be home in five minutes.
You will drive to Brookside from most of the city, but once you are here you can park once and walk the strip. Parking along Peoria tightens up on weekend nights.
Brick and frame bungalows from the 1920s and ’30s fill the blocks just off the avenue, with a scattering of larger rebuilt houses. Most of the houses on the market have a fireplace, about 78%, per Trulia data. Brookside also has one of the largest for-sale selections of any Tulsa neighborhood, around 68 listings, so there is usually something to walk through.
The Tradeoff: You are walking distance from the busiest strip in town, which is the draw and the noise both.
If Not Here, Then… Try Cherry Street, a smaller, quieter version of the same walk-to-dinner idea.
As of June 2026, based on Trulia data:
- Average rent (1BR Apartment): $1,500.
- Average rent (2BR Apartment): $1,500.
- Average list price (3BR House): $391,500.
Take a look at what’s listed: rentals in Brookside, Tulsa and homes for sale in Brookside, Tulsa on Trulia.
Learn more about Brookside, Tulsa on Trulia
Cherry Street: Restaurant row
Cherry Street is the name locals give to the stretch of 15th Street lined with restaurants and coffee shops in midtown, about ten minutes from downtown. The blocks pull a steady crowd for dinner, and a Saturday farmers market takes over a lot in warm months. It stays smaller and calmer than Brookside, which is much of the appeal.
Craftsman bungalows with deep front porches line the streets behind 15th Street, most of them close to a century old. A few blocks in, the crowd noise drops off and the streets go quiet. Rentals here are roomy for the area, with two-bedroom apartments on the market averaging about 1,300 square feet, per Trulia data.
The Tradeoff: You get a walkable restaurant row without the Brookside crowds. The older bungalows come with older-house upkeep, though.
If Not Here, Then… Try Brookside, if you want a longer strip and more to walk to.
As of June 2026, based on Trulia data:
- Average rent (1BR Apartment): $899.
- Average rent (2BR Apartment): $2,199.
- Average list price (3BR House): $385,000.
See what’s available this week: rentals in Cherry Street, Tulsa and homes for sale in Cherry Street, Tulsa on Trulia.
Learn more about Cherry Street, Tulsa on Trulia
Kendall – Whittier: Arts and murals
Kendall – Whittier stretches east of downtown next to the University of Tulsa. The old commercial blocks along its main street have come back over the past decade, and murals cover a good number of the walls. It reads as an arts district with a college edge, and you can walk to a café or a gallery from most of it.
Small early-1900s cottages and frame houses make up most of the blocks, many of them recently fixed up. Prices to buy stay low for a central neighborhood. Garages are hit or miss here. Just 46% of the houses on the market list one, per Trulia data, so plenty of streets park at the curb.
The Tradeoff: Some of the lowest home prices near downtown, but you are buying an older house that may need work.
If Not Here, Then… Try Cherry Street, which trades the lower prices for a more finished, walkable stretch.
As of June 2026, based on Trulia data:
- Average rent (1BR Apartment): $1,658.
- Average rent (2BR Apartment): $1,898.
- Average list price (3BR House): $179,500.
Have a look at what’s listed: rentals in Kendall – Whittier, Tulsa and homes for sale in Kendall – Whittier, Tulsa on Trulia.
Learn more about Kendall – Whittier, Tulsa on Trulia
Riverview: Riverfront and quick downtown access
Riverview runs down to the Arkansas River just south of downtown. The River Parks trail follows the water here for miles. Runners and cyclists are out on the path before the coffee shops open. You can walk or bike it south toward the big riverfront parks.
The short hop downtown is the practical draw here. The drive to the city center takes only a few minutes, quicker than almost anywhere else in Tulsa.
Low condo buildings and older houses share the streets between downtown and the water. The numbers say it: two-bedroom condos lead the for-sale listings here, ahead of the houses, per Trulia data. Shared laundry is also more common here than in most of Tulsa. About 39% of rentals list it, versus roughly 11% citywide, a sign of the older buildings.
The Tradeoff: You get the river and a quick downtown commute, but many of the buildings are older and short on parking.
If Not Here, Then… Try Maple Ridge, just east, where the streets get grander and quieter.
As of June 2026, based on Trulia data:
- Average rent (1BR Apartment): $1,140.
- Average rent (2BR Apartment): $1,791.
- Average list price (2BR Apartment): $219,450.
See what’s on the market: rentals in Riverview, Tulsa and homes for sale in Riverview, Tulsa on Trulia.
Learn more about Riverview, Tulsa on Trulia
Maple Ridge: Tree-lined and historic
Big trees arch over the streets of Maple Ridge, a historic district that runs south from downtown toward the river. The lawns are deep and the sidewalks old, and it stays quiet block after block. You can wander the rose gardens at Woodward Park on the eastern edge. A short way southwest, you can walk the trails or rent a free canoe at the Gathering Place riverfront park.
Grand brick and stone houses from the early 1900s line the tree-shaded streets, many of them built during the oil boom. Lots are generous for a central neighborhood. The typical 3-bedroom on the market has about 8,800 square feet of land, per Trulia data, well above the condos downtown. Prices to buy are among the highest in Tulsa.
The Tradeoff: You get some of the prettiest historic streets in the city. You pay for the address, though, and the big old houses cost more to keep up.
If Not Here, Then… Try Brookside, nearby and still historic, with a walkable strip and somewhat lower prices.
As of June 2026, based on Trulia data:
- Average rent (1BR Apartment): $1,350.
- Average rent (2BR Apartment): $1,750.
- Average list price (3BR House): $469,900.
Browse what’s listed: rentals in Maple Ridge, Tulsa and homes for sale in Maple Ridge, Tulsa on Trulia.
Learn more about Maple Ridge, Tulsa on Trulia
Hoover: Quiet south-side ranches
Hoover is a quiet residential pocket in south Tulsa, about fifteen minutes from downtown. There is no strip to walk to and no landmark to point at. You get calm streets, mature trees, and low traffic instead. It is the kind of place you move to for a house and a yard rather than a night out.
The drive downtown takes about fifteen minutes on the highway, longer at rush hour, and you will drive for groceries and errands too.
Single-story brick ranch houses from the 1960s and ’70s stretch across these blocks, set back on tidy lawns. The houses on the market are modest, most around 1,200 square feet, per Trulia data. Prices stay well below the central neighborhoods. It is one of the more affordable places on the south side to buy a full house with a yard.
The Tradeoff: You get more house and yard for the money, but you drive for everything and give up the walkability.
If Not Here, Then… Try Lynn Lane on the east side, where newer houses with attached garages sell for a bit more.
As of June 2026, based on Trulia data:
- Average rent (1BR Apartment): $950.
- Average rent (2BR Apartment): $1,195.
- Average list price (3BR House): $209,900.
See what’s for sale now: rentals in Hoover, Tulsa and homes for sale in Hoover, Tulsa on Trulia.
Learn more about Hoover, Tulsa on Trulia
The Comparison Index
| Neighborhood | Avg Rent (2BR Apartment) | Avg Home Price | Type of Housing | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown | $2,392 | $112,000 (1BR condo) | Lofts and condos | Nightlife and live music |
| Brookside | $1,500 | $391,500 (3BR house) | Bungalows and older houses | Shopping and dining strip |
| Cherry Street | $2,199 | $385,000 (3BR house) | Craftsman bungalows | Restaurant row |
| Kendall – Whittier | $1,898 | $179,500 (3BR house) | Older cottages and houses | Arts and murals |
| Riverview | $1,791 | $219,450 (2BR condo) | Older condos and houses | Riverfront and historic |
| Maple Ridge | $1,750 | $469,900 (3BR house) | Historic mansions | Quiet and tree-lined |
| Hoover | $1,195 | $209,900 (3BR house) | Mid-century ranches | Quiet residential |
Source: Average rent and home price figures are from Trulia data, June 2026.
How to Pick a Tulsa Neighborhood
Start with the type of house you want, because that narrows things down fast. If you want a historic bungalow or a grand old house, look at Brookside, Cherry Street, and Maple Ridge in midtown. If you want a newer house with a garage and a yard for less money, look south to Hoover or east toward Lynn Lane.
Then weigh price against the commute. The central and riverfront neighborhoods put you minutes from downtown and the walkable strips, but you pay more per square foot and often give up the garage. Move south and the same money buys a bigger house, at the cost of a daily drive.
Walkability is the last big lever. Only a handful of Tulsa neighborhoods let you leave the car at home. Downtown, Brookside, and Cherry Street are the clearest of them. Everywhere else, plan on driving.
When you have two or three in mind, go walk them on a weekend evening. The difference between a quiet street and a busy strip shows up fast, and it is easier to feel than to read.
Keep researching Tulsa on Trulia
Trulia’s neighborhood pages have local reviews, more rent and price data, and the homes on the market right now. You can compare neighborhoods side by side and filter listings by price, beds, and a long list of amenities and home details. The neighborhood maps also plot what’s nearby, from restaurants and groceries to nightlife, shopping, and gyms, so you can see what’s around a block before you ever visit. It’s the same neighborhood-level data behind this guide, in a form you can dig into yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average home price in Tulsa, OK?
The average list price for a 3-bedroom house in Tulsa is about $264,900, per Trulia data (June 2026). Across these neighborhoods it ranges from around $179,500 for a 3-bedroom house in Kendall – Whittier to about $469,900 in historic Maple Ridge.
What is the average rent in Tulsa, OK?
The average rent in Tulsa is about $955 for a 1-bedroom apartment, per Trulia data (June 2026). A 2-bedroom apartment averages about $1,209. You can see the citywide picture on Trulia’s average rent in Tulsa page.
What are the most expensive neighborhoods in Tulsa, OK?
Maple Ridge and Brookside are the priciest to buy. Average list prices are around $469,900 and $391,500 for a 3-bedroom house, per Trulia data (June 2026). To rent, Downtown is highest at about $2,392 for a 2-bedroom apartment, ahead of Cherry Street at $2,199.
What are the most affordable neighborhoods in Tulsa, OK?
Kendall – Whittier and Hoover are among the most affordable to buy. Average list prices are near $179,500 and $209,900 for a 3-bedroom house, per Trulia data (June 2026). Hoover is also easy on renters at about $1,195 for a 2-bedroom apartment, while Kendall – Whittier’s few rentals are higher at $1,898.
Is Tulsa, OK walkable?
Mostly no, though a few areas stand out. The best neighborhoods in Tulsa for walking are Downtown, Brookside, and Cherry Street, where you can cover dinner and errands on foot. The rest of the city is built around driving.
What is commuting like in Tulsa, OK?
Commuting in Tulsa is mostly driving, on highways like I-44, US-75, and the Broken Arrow Expressway, with Tulsa Transit buses filling in. Central neighborhoods like Downtown and Riverview put you minutes from the city center. South-side areas like Hoover are closer to fifteen minutes or more.
