Tulsa's equality score hits record high in latest city report

Tulsa leaders say the city is making steady gains in reducing inequality, but challenges remain, especially when it comes to justice.

The City of Tulsa and Tulsa Area United Way just released the seventh annual Tulsa Equality Indicators report. It tracks disparities across six key areas: education, economic opportunity, housing, public health, services and justice.

Tulsa’s overall score for 2024 is 43.09 out of 100, the highest since tracking began in 2018.

Tulsa’s Overall Score Sees Improvement

This year’s City Score is 4.4 points higher than the baseline score recorded six years ago. The upward trend suggests progress in how different communities across Tulsa experience access and opportunity.

Mayor Monroe Nichols said the report is a valuable tool to guide change.

“While I am encouraged by the increase of our overall score, I’m reminded that challenges remain, and there is much work to be done if we want to move Tulsa toward greater equality,” Nichols said.

Breakdown by Theme: Where Tulsa Stands Now

The six themes in the report all scored below 60, with some showing significant progress since 2018:

1. Education: 55.11
2. Economic Opportunity: 48.44
3. Housing: 45.11
4. Public Health: 41.11
5. Services: 38.33
6. Justice: 30.44

Education saw the biggest gain, improving 16 points since the baseline. The Justice category, however, saw a decline. It was the only theme to drop.

Biggest Gains and Standout Indicators

Five indicators reached perfect scores of 100 in 2024, signaling parity or reversed disparities:

1. Business ownership by race
2. Chronic absenteeism by race
3. Dropping out by income
4. Homelessness by veteran status
5. VA appointment wait time compared to the national average

The most improved metrics include:

1. Chronic absenteeism by race (+67)
2. Dropping out by income (+63)
3. Housing complaints by geography (+54)
4. Business ownership by race (+48)
5. VA appointment wait times (+32)

Where the City Is Falling Short

Despite the gains, the report flags concerning trends. The lowest scoring indicator was “payday loans and banks by geography,” while “infant mortality by race” saw the steepest decline.

Alison Anthony, President and CEO of Tulsa Area United Way, said the data highlights both progress and the work ahead.

“Significant gains show us where certain collaborative efforts are making a tangible difference,” Anthony said. “The data also clearly points to remaining challenges, particularly the decline in the Justice theme, which requires our shared commitment and continued focus.”

How the Report Is Created

The Equality Indicators are developed using methodology from the City University of New York’s Institute for State and Local Governance.

A total of 54 indicators are scored from 1 (high inequality) to 100 (high equality), grouped evenly across the six categories.

Get Involved and Learn More

The full 2024 report, along with past editions and learning resources, is available at www.tulsaei.org.

A public presentation of the report will be held on Tuesday, May 6, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Tulsa Area United Way, 1430 S. Boulder Ave. Those interested in attending can RSVP online.