Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Lawton, OK
🏆 Des Moines leads 12 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
213,164 ✓ 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.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
14% less violent crime than Lawton
Households earn $10,817 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.9%)
More college-educated — 28.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Lawton
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $45k less ($125,500 vs $170,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 31°F
Rent averages $97/mo less ($898 vs $995)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Des Moines
Cons
Violent crime (820.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Des Moines by $10,817/yr
Property crime (2652.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Median Income
$10,817
$62,378 vs $51,561/yr
Des Moines
Violent Crime
14% lower
703.0 vs 820.3 per 100k
Des Moines
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.7% unemployment
Lawton
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$45k less
$125,500 vs $170,700
Lawton
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 85.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Lawton, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 | $125,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $898 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $51,561 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 12.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% ✓ Higher | 22.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | LAWTON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" | 34.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 2.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 91,023 |
| Median Age | 34.4 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 44.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Lawton's 87.6 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Des Moines leads 12 of 23 categories. Des Moines 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 Des Moines to Lawton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $125,500 median home), income ($62,378 vs $51,561), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Lawton, OK are about 547 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.