Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Los Angeles, CA
🏆 Los Angeles leads 13 of 22 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
Los Angeles
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $697k less ($125,500 vs $822,600)
Rent averages $893/mo less ($898 vs $1,791)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Los Angeles by $24,683/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
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,683 more per year on average
11% less violent crime than Lawton
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Lawton
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$697k less
$125,500 vs $822,600
Lawton
Summer Heat
17.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 78.0°F
Los Angeles
Median Income
$24,683
$76,244 vs $51,561/yr
Los Angeles
Violent Crime
11% lower
728.5 vs 820.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Los Angeles, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $822,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,791⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $76,244 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 71 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 36.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | Los Angeles Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 78.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% ✓ Higher | 36.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Los Angeles's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Los Angeles leads 13 of 22 categories. Lawton wins 9 and Los Angeles wins 13. 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 Los Angeles or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $822,600 median home), income ($51,561 vs $76,244), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Los Angeles, CA are about 1,140 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.