Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Lawton, OK
🏆 Boca Raton leads 15 of 23 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980 ✓ 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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $44,009 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Lawton
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Lawton
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $472k less ($125,500 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $1272/mo less ($898 vs $2,170)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $44,009/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 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$44,009
$95,570 vs $51,561/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
79% lower
171.0 vs 820.3 per 100k
Boca Raton
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.7% unemployment
Lawton
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$472k less
$125,500 vs $597,100
Lawton
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Lawton, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $125,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $898 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $51,561 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 12.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 22.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | LAWTON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 51.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 34.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 ✓ Larger | 91,023 |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 44.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Lawton's 87.6 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 15 of 23 categories. Boca Raton wins 15 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 Boca Raton to Lawton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $125,500 median home), income ($95,570 vs $51,561), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Lawton, OK are about 1,228 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.