Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Lawton, OK
🏆 Boston leads 12 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Lawton
Oklahoma
11
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.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $37,651 more per year on average
23% less violent crime than Lawton
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Lawton
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $559k less ($125,500 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $1083/mo less ($898 vs $1,981)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 37°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $37,651/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 6.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boston
Median Income
$37,651
$89,212 vs $51,561/yr
Boston
Violent Crime
23% lower
627.9 vs 820.3 per 100k
Boston
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.7% unemployment
Lawton
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$559k less
$125,500 vs $684,900
Lawton
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Lawton, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $125,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $898 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $51,561 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 12.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 22.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | LAWTON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" | 34.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 2.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 91,023 |
| Median Age | 32.9 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 44.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Lawton's 87.6 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Boston leads 12 of 23 categories. Boston wins 12 and Lawton wins 11. 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 Boston to Lawton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $125,500 median home), income ($89,212 vs $51,561), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Lawton, OK are about 1,567 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.