Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carson, CA
VS
Lawton, OK
🏆 Carson leads 13 of 23 categories
Carson
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
94,475 ✓ Larger
Lawton
Oklahoma
10
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.
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,484 more per year on average
49% less violent crime than Lawton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 51°F
More college-educated — 29.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Lawton
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $491k less ($125,500 vs $616,000)
Rent averages $917/mo less ($898 vs $1,815)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $51,484/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 6.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carson
Median Income
$51,484
$103,045 vs $51,561/yr
Carson
Violent Crime
49% lower
420.0 vs 820.3 per 100k
Carson
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.7% unemployment
Lawton
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$491k less
$125,500 vs $616,000
Lawton
Summer Heat
19.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carson, CA | Lawton, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $616,000⚠ High | $125,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,815⚠ High | $898 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $103,045 ✓ Higher | $51,561 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.6 min | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.8% | 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 | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 140⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.6% ✓ Higher | 22.5% |
| High School or Higher | 82.3% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Long Beach Unified | LAWTON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.8°F ✓ Warmer | 51.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.6" ✓ Drier | 34.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,475 ✓ Larger | 91,023 |
| Median Age | 41.3 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.7% ✓ Higher | 44.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carson's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Lawton's 87.6 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carson leads 13 of 23 categories. Carson wins 13 and Lawton wins 10. 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 Carson to Lawton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($616,000 vs $125,500 median home), income ($103,045 vs $51,561), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carson, CA and Lawton, OK are about 1,132 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.