Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Lawton, OK
🏆 Lawton leads 14 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Lawton
Oklahoma
14
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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
50% less violent crime than Lawton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.9%)
Households earn $8,378 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Higher rents — median is $1,390/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Lawton
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $233k less ($125,500 vs $358,400)
Rent averages $492/mo less ($898 vs $1,390)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 22.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Cons
Violent crime (820.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Elizabeth by $8,378/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
Elizabeth
Median Income
$8,378
$59,939 vs $51,561/yr
Elizabeth
Violent Crime
50% lower
408.7 vs 820.3 per 100k
Elizabeth
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.7% unemployment
Lawton
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$233k less
$125,500 vs $358,400
Lawton
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Lawton, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $125,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $898 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 ✓ Higher | $51,561 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 12.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 22.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | LAWTON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" | 34.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 2.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 91,023 |
| Median Age | 35.7 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 44.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 12.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Lawton's 87.6 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawton leads 14 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 9 and Lawton wins 14. 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 Elizabeth to Lawton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $125,500 median home), income ($59,939 vs $51,561), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Lawton, OK are about 1,385 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.