Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
McKinney, TX
🏆 McKinney 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
McKinney
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,286 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
196,160 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $275k less ($125,500 vs $400,400)
Rent averages $842/mo less ($898 vs $1,740)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than McKinney
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Cons
Median income trails McKinney by $61,725/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 3.7%)
McKinney, TX
Pros
Households earn $61,725 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Lawton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.0 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 52.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (117.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $400,400
Higher rents — median is $1,740/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Lawton
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$275k less
$125,500 vs $400,400
McKinney
Median Income
$61,725
$113,286 vs $51,561/yr
McKinney
Violent Crime
86% lower
117.3 vs 820.3 per 100k
McKinney
Unemployment
4.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | McKinney, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $400,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,740⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $113,286 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% | 18.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 39 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | A+ (130) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 52.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | MCKINNEY ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F | 56.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 94.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" ✓ Drier | 42.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 196,160 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 64.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs McKinney's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McKinney leads 15 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 8 and McKinney 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 McKinney or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $400,400 median home), income ($51,561 vs $113,286), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and McKinney, TX are about 141 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.