Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Lawton, OK
🏆 Jacksonville leads 14 of 23 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
Median Household Income
$64,138 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Lawton
Oklahoma
9
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.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
24% less violent crime than Lawton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.8%)
Households earn $12,577 more per year on average
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 51°F
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Lawton
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $118k less ($125,500 vs $243,000)
Rent averages $383/mo less ($898 vs $1,281)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Jacksonville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (820.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Jacksonville by $12,577/yr
Property crime (2652.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Median Income
$12,577
$64,138 vs $51,561/yr
Jacksonville
Violent Crime
24% lower
623.8 vs 820.3 per 100k
Jacksonville
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Lawton
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$118k less
$125,500 vs $243,000
Lawton
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 91.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Lawton, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 | $125,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 | $898 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 ✓ Higher | $51,561 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 12.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 22.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | LAWTON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 51.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 34.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 91,023 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 31.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 44.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% ✓ More | 12.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Lawton's 87.6 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 14 of 23 categories. Jacksonville wins 14 and Lawton wins 9. 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 Jacksonville to Lawton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $125,500 median home), income ($64,138 vs $51,561), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Lawton, OK are about 1,019 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.