Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Omaha, NE
🏆 Omaha leads 13 of 23 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
91,023
Omaha
Nebraska
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5
Median Household Income
$70,202 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
97 ✓ Safer
Population
489,201 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $85k less ($125,500 vs $210,300)
Rent averages $201/mo less ($898 vs $1,099)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 32°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Omaha
Cons
Median income trails Omaha by $18,641/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 4.2%)
Omaha, NE
Pros
55% less violent crime than Lawton
Households earn $18,641 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 39.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°F
Cons
Property crime (3161.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Lawton
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 92.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$85k less
$125,500 vs $210,300
Lawton
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 85.2°F
Omaha
Median Income
$18,641
$70,202 vs $51,561/yr
Omaha
Violent Crime
55% lower
369.0 vs 820.3 per 100k
Omaha
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Omaha, NE |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 92.5 |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $210,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,099 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $70,202 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 19.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 39.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 90.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" | 33.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" ✓ Less | 27.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 489,201 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 57.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Omaha's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Omaha leads 13 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 10 and Omaha wins 13. 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 Omaha or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $210,300 median home), income ($51,561 vs $70,202), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Omaha, NE are about 477 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.