Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Oklahoma City, OK
🏆 Oklahoma City leads 14 of 23 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High
Population
156,149
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $18,535 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Homes cost $297k less ($196,700 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $653/mo less ($1,012 vs $1,665)
14% less violent crime than Lakewood
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lakewood by $18,535/yr
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakewood
Median Income
$18,535
$82,786 vs $64,251/yr
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Violent Crime
14% lower
676.0 vs 787.2 per 100k
Oklahoma City
Median Home Value
$297k less
$196,700 vs $494,100
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 85.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Oklahoma City, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $196,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $1,012 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $64,251 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 8.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | OKLAHOMA CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 6.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 | 681,088 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 13.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Oklahoma City's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oklahoma City leads 14 of 23 categories. Lakewood wins 9 and Oklahoma City 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 Lakewood to Oklahoma City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $196,700 median home), income ($82,786 vs $64,251), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Oklahoma City, OK are about 508 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.