Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Collins, CO
VS
Lawton, OK
🏆 Fort Collins leads 13 of 23 categories
Fort Collins
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$78,977 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
168,758 ✓ 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.
Fort Collins, CO
Pros
67% less violent crime than Lawton
Households earn $27,416 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $497,400
Higher rents — median is $1,576/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Lawton
Snowy winters — about 49" of snow per year
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $372k less ($125,500 vs $497,400)
Rent averages $678/mo less ($898 vs $1,576)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Collins
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Fort Collins by $27,416/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 5.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Collins
Median Income
$27,416
$78,977 vs $51,561/yr
Fort Collins
Violent Crime
67% lower
272.7 vs 820.3 per 100k
Fort Collins
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.3% vs 7.7% unemployment
Lawton
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$372k less
$125,500 vs $497,400
Lawton
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 87.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Collins, CO | Lawton, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $497,400⚠ High | $125,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,576⚠ High | $898 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,977 ✓ Higher | $51,561 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.3 min | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 12.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 84 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 22.5% |
| High School or Higher | 97.1% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Poudre School District R-1 | LAWTON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 45.0°F | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.4°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.4" ✓ Drier | 34.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.3" | 2.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,758 ✓ Larger | 91,023 |
| Median Age | 30.1 | 31.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% ✓ Higher | 44.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 12.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Collins's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Lawton's 87.6 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fort Collins leads 13 of 23 categories. Fort Collins 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 Fort Collins to Lawton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($497,400 vs $125,500 median home), income ($78,977 vs $51,561), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Collins, CO and Lawton, OK are about 548 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.