Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Norman, OK
🏆 Lawton leads 12 of 23 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
91,023
Norman
Oklahoma
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$62,849 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
68 ✓ Safer
Population
127,701 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $99k less ($125,500 vs $224,900)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $106/mo less ($898 vs $1,004)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Norman
Cons
Violent crime (820.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Norman by $11,288/yr
Property crime (2652.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.8%)
Norman, OK
Pros
68% less violent crime than Lawton
Violent crime is well below the national average (260.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $11,288 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 45.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Lawton
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$99k less
$125,500 vs $224,900
Lawton
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 92.5°F
Norman
Median Income
$11,288
$62,849 vs $51,561/yr
Norman
Violent Crime
68% lower
260.2 vs 820.3 per 100k
Norman
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
5.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Norman, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $224,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,004 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $62,849 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 9.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ 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 ✓ Smaller | 16.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 45.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | NORMAN |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 92.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" ✓ Drier | 37.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" ✓ Less | 4.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 127,701 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 52.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 18.1% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Norman's 91.0 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawton leads 12 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 12 and Norman wins 11. 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 Norman or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $224,900 median home), income ($51,561 vs $62,849), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Norman, OK are about 75 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.