Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
McAllen, TX
🏆 McAllen leads 18 of 23 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
91,023
McAllen
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $33k less ($125,500 vs $158,700)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
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
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.4%)
Median income trails McAllen by $4,765/yr
McAllen, TX
Pros
82% less violent crime than Lawton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 51°F
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,765 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Median Home Value
$33k less
$125,500 vs $158,700
McAllen
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 87.6 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Income
$4,765
$56,326 vs $51,561/yr
McAllen
Violent Crime
82% lower
150.0 vs 820.3 per 100k
McAllen
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | McAllen, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $158,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $955 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $56,326 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 9.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 87 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 31.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 78.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | MCALLEN ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" | 27.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 142,722 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 32.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs McAllen's 85.6 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 18 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 5 and McAllen wins 18. 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 McAllen or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $158,700 median home), income ($51,561 vs $56,326), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and McAllen, TX are about 580 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.