Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Lawton, OK
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Denver
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Lawton
Oklahoma
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
91,023
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $34,292 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Lawton
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $415k less ($125,500 vs $540,400)
Rent averages $767/mo less ($898 vs $1,665)
17% less violent crime than Denver
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $34,292/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 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denver
Median Income
$34,292
$85,853 vs $51,561/yr
Denver
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.7% unemployment
Lawton
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Violent Crime
17% lower
820.3 vs 993.0 per 100k
Lawton
Median Home Value
$415k less
$125,500 vs $540,400
Lawton
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 90.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Lawton, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $125,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $898 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $51,561 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 12.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 22.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | LAWTON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 34.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 2.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 91,023 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 44.7% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Lawton's 87.6 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Denver wins 11 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 Denver to Lawton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $125,500 median home), income ($85,853 vs $51,561), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Lawton, OK are about 502 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.