Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Lawton, OK
🏆 Arlington leads 14 of 22 categories
Arlington
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Lawton
Oklahoma
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
91,023
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arlington, TX
Pros
41% less violent crime than Lawton
Households earn $20,175 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 51°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Lawton
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $126k less ($125,500 vs $251,300)
Rent averages $399/mo less ($898 vs $1,297)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $20,175/yr
Violent crime (820.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2652.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$20,175
$71,736 vs $51,561/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
41% lower
482.9 vs 820.3 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.7% unemployment
Lawton
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$126k less
$125,500 vs $251,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Lawton, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 | $125,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $898 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $51,561 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 12.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 22.5% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | LAWTON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer | 51.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F | 95.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" | 34.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" ✓ Less | 2.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 91,023 |
| Median Age | 33.1 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% ✓ Higher | 44.7% |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 12.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lawton's 87.6 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arlington leads 14 of 22 categories. Arlington wins 14 and Lawton wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Arlington to Lawton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $125,500 median home), income ($71,736 vs $51,561), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Lawton, OK are about 152 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.