Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Killeen, TX
VS
Lawton, OK
🏆 Killeen leads 12 of 23 categories
Killeen
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.8
Median Household Income
$57,086 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
139⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
153,708 ✓ Larger
Lawton
Oklahoma
11
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.
Killeen, TX
Pros
36% less violent crime than Lawton
Households earn $5,525 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 51°F
Cons
Violent crime (527.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (10.9% vs 7.7%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Lawton
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $50k less ($125,500 vs $175,400)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (7.7%)
Rent averages $186/mo less ($898 vs $1,084)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Killeen
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 Killeen by $5,525/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Killeen
Median Income
$5,525
$57,086 vs $51,561/yr
Killeen
Violent Crime
36% lower
527.6 vs 820.3 per 100k
Lawton
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 91.8 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$50k less
$125,500 vs $175,400
Lawton
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
7.7% vs 10.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Killeen, TX | Lawton, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.8 | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $175,400 | $125,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,084 | $898 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,086 ✓ Higher | $51,561 |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.9%⚠ High | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.1% | 12.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 180⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 66 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) ✓ Better | C (78) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.1% | 22.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.9% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | KILLEEN ISD | LAWTON |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer | 51.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.7°F | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.0" | 34.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 153,708 ✓ Larger | 91,023 |
| Median Age | 29.7 | 31.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.3% ✓ Higher | 44.7% |
| Under 18 | 29.2% ✓ More | 23.1% |
| Over 65 | 7.5% | 12.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Killeen's cost of living index is 91.8 vs Lawton's 87.6 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Killeen leads 12 of 23 categories. Killeen wins 12 and Lawton wins 11. 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 Killeen to Lawton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($175,400 vs $125,500 median home), income ($57,086 vs $51,561), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Killeen, TX and Lawton, OK are about 248 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.