Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Lawton, OK
🏆 Lawton leads 12 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$57,415 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
122,218 ✓ 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.
Independence, MO
Pros
30% less violent crime than Lawton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.2%)
Households earn $5,854 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Lawton
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $25k less ($125,500 vs $150,800)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Rent averages $122/mo less ($898 vs $1,020)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
More college-educated — 22.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Median income trails Independence by $5,854/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 6.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Median Income
$5,854
$57,415 vs $51,561/yr
Independence
Violent Crime
30% lower
571.2 vs 820.3 per 100k
Independence
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Lawton
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$25k less
$125,500 vs $150,800
Lawton
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Lawton, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 | $125,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 | $898 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 ✓ Higher | $51,561 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 12.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 22.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | LAWTON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" | 34.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" | 2.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 ✓ Larger | 91,023 |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 44.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Lawton's 87.6 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawton leads 12 of 23 categories. Independence 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 Independence to Lawton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $125,500 median home), income ($57,415 vs $51,561), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Lawton, OK are about 382 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.