Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Federal Way, WA
VS
Lawton, OK
🏆 Lawton leads 12 of 23 categories
Federal Way
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,360 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
144⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,614 ✓ Larger
Lawton
Oklahoma
12
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.
Federal Way, WA
Pros
Households earn $28,799 more per year on average
34% less violent crime than Lawton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 96°F
More college-educated — 30.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $454,300
Higher rents — median is $1,660/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Lawton
Violent crime (545.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $329k less ($125,500 vs $454,300)
Rent averages $762/mo less ($898 vs $1,660)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Federal Way
Commutes run 17 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 Federal Way by $28,799/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 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Federal Way
Median Income
$28,799
$80,360 vs $51,561/yr
Federal Way
Violent Crime
34% lower
545.4 vs 820.3 per 100k
Federal Way
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.7% unemployment
Lawton
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$329k less
$125,500 vs $454,300
Lawton
Summer Heat
19.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 76.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Federal Way, WA | Lawton, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $454,300⚠ High | $125,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,660⚠ High | $898 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,360 ✓ Higher | $51,561 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.3 min⚠ High | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.9% | 12.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 144⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 208⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.6% ✓ Higher | 22.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.2% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Federal Way School District | LAWTON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.8°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.6" | 34.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" | 2.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,614 ✓ Larger | 91,023 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.4% ✓ Higher | 44.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.0% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal Way's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Lawton's 87.6 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawton leads 12 of 23 categories. Federal Way wins 11 and Lawton wins 12. 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 Federal Way to Lawton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($454,300 vs $125,500 median home), income ($80,360 vs $51,561), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Federal Way, WA and Lawton, OK are about 1,515 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.