Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Milwaukee, WI
🏆 Lawton leads 17 of 23 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
91,023
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
43% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Homes cost $32k less ($125,500 vs $157,800)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 30°F
Rent averages $84/mo less ($898 vs $982)
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 5.9%)
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 96°F
More college-educated — 26.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Lawton
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 95.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Income
$1,828
$51,561 vs $49,733/yr
Lawton
Violent Crime
43% lower
820.3 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Lawton
Median Home Value
$32k less
$125,500 vs $157,800
Lawton
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 82.8°F
Milwaukee
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Milwaukee, WI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 95.5 |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $157,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $982 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 ✓ Higher | $49,733 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 9.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 277⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer | 377⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | C (82) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 26.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | Milwaukee School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer | 29.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" | 33.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" ✓ Less | 39.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 573,299 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% ✓ Higher | 41.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Milwaukee's 95.5 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawton leads 17 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 17 and Milwaukee wins 6. 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 Milwaukee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $157,800 median home), income ($51,561 vs $49,733), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Milwaukee, WI are about 809 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.