Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Lee's Summit, MO
🏆 Lee's Summit leads 15 of 23 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
91,023
Lee's Summit
Missouri
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$103,447 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
101,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($125,500 vs $291,400)
Rent averages $397/mo less ($898 vs $1,295)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Lee's Summit
Cons
Median income trails Lee's Summit by $51,886/yr
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 3.8%)
Lee's Summit, MO
Pros
Households earn $51,886 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Lawton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (149.4 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Lawton
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$166k less
$125,500 vs $291,400
Lawton
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 88.3°F
Lee's Summit
Median Income
$51,886
$103,447 vs $51,561/yr
Lee's Summit
Violent Crime
82% lower
149.4 vs 820.3 per 100k
Lee's Summit
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
3.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Lee's Summit, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 93.3 |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $291,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,295 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $103,447 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 97.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | LEE'S SUMMIT R-VII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" ✓ Less | 8.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 101,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 38.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 75.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Lee's Summit's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lee's Summit leads 15 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 8 and Lee's Summit wins 15. 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 Lawton to Lee's Summit or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $291,400 median home), income ($51,561 vs $103,447), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Lee's Summit, MO are about 372 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.