Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Oklahoma City, 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
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$64,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($125,500 vs $196,700)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $114/mo less ($898 vs $1,012)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Oklahoma City
Cons
Violent crime (820.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Oklahoma City by $12,690/yr
Property crime (2652.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 4.5%)
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
18% less violent crime than Lawton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.5%)
Households earn $12,690 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
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
$71k less
$125,500 vs $196,700
Oklahoma City
Median Income
$12,690
$64,251 vs $51,561/yr
Oklahoma City
Violent Crime
18% lower
676.0 vs 820.3 per 100k
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Oklahoma City, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 91.0 |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $196,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,012 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $64,251 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 8.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 33.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | OKLAHOMA CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 93.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" ✓ Drier | 37.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" ✓ Less | 6.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 681,088 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 25.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Oklahoma City'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 Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $196,700 median home), income ($51,561 vs $64,251), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Oklahoma City, OK are about 78 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.