Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fresno, CA
VS
Lawton, OK
🏆 Fresno leads 13 of 23 categories
Fresno
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
541,528 ✓ 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.
Fresno, CA
Pros
10% less violent crime than Lawton
Households earn $11,440 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Lawton
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $196k less ($125,500 vs $321,800)
Rent averages $329/mo less ($898 vs $1,227)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (7.7%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
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 Fresno by $11,440/yr
Property crime (2652.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Fresno
Median Income
$11,440
$63,001 vs $51,561/yr
Fresno
Violent Crime
10% lower
735.5 vs 820.3 per 100k
Lawton
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$196k less
$125,500 vs $321,800
Lawton
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
7.7% vs 9.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fresno, CA | Lawton, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.0⚠ High | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $321,800⚠ High | $125,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,227 | $898 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,001 ✓ Higher | $51,561 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.0%⚠ High | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 12.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% ✓ Higher | 22.5% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fresno Unified | LAWTON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.4°F ✓ Warmer | 51.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer | 95.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 34.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 541,528 ✓ Larger | 91,023 |
| Median Age | 32.1 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.1% ✓ Higher | 44.7% |
| Under 18 | 27.8% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 12.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fresno's cost of living index is 105.0 vs Lawton's 87.6 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Fresno leads 13 of 23 categories. Fresno 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 Fresno to Lawton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($321,800 vs $125,500 median home), income ($63,001 vs $51,561), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fresno, CA and Lawton, OK are about 1,206 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.