Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gainesville, FL
VS
Lawton, OK
🏆 Lawton leads 14 of 23 categories
Gainesville
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.9
Median Household Income
$43,783
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
142,414 ✓ Larger
Lawton
Oklahoma
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561 ✓ Higher
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.
Gainesville, FL
Pros
10% less violent crime than Lawton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 50.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 51°F
Cons
Violent crime (738.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lawton by $7,778/yr
Property crime (2703.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Lawton
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $91k less ($125,500 vs $216,600)
Rent averages $253/mo less ($898 vs $1,151)
Households earn $7,778 more per year on average
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Gainesville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Cons
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
Gainesville
Violent Crime
10% lower
738.0 vs 820.3 per 100k
Gainesville
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.7% unemployment
Lawton
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 96.9 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Income
$7,778
$51,561 vs $43,783/yr
Lawton
Median Home Value
$91k less
$125,500 vs $216,600
Lawton
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 91.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Lawton, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.9 | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $216,600 | $125,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,151 | $898 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,783 | $51,561 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.8 min | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% | 12.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ 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 | 129⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.2:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 22.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALACHUA | LAWTON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.1°F ✓ Warmer | 51.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 34.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,414 ✓ Larger | 91,023 |
| Median Age | 26.0 | 31.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.5% | 44.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 12.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gainesville's cost of living index is 96.9 vs Lawton's 87.6 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawton leads 14 of 23 categories. Gainesville 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 Gainesville to Lawton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($216,600 vs $125,500 median home), income ($43,783 vs $51,561), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gainesville, FL and Lawton, OK are about 999 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.