Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Lincoln, NE
🏆 Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
91,023
Lincoln
Nebraska
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.0
Median Household Income
$67,846 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
290,531 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $105k less ($125,500 vs $230,400)
Rent averages $100/mo less ($898 vs $998)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Lincoln
Cons
Violent crime (820.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lincoln by $16,285/yr
Property crime (2652.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 3.3%)
Lincoln, NE
Pros
58% less violent crime than Lawton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (3.3%)
Households earn $16,285 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Lawton
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 92.0 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$105k less
$125,500 vs $230,400
Lawton
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 89.4°F
Lincoln
Median Income
$16,285
$67,846 vs $51,561/yr
Lincoln
Violent Crime
58% lower
347.9 vs 820.3 per 100k
Lincoln
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
3.3% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Lincoln, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 92.0 |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $230,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $998 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $67,846 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 8.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 92 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 40.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 92.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | LINCOLN PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer | 35.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" | 30.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" ✓ Less | 26.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 290,531 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 33.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 14.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Lincoln's 92.0 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lincoln leads 14 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 9 and Lincoln 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 Lawton to Lincoln or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $230,400 median home), income ($51,561 vs $67,846), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Lincoln, NE are about 438 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.