Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Orange, CA
🏆 Orange 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
Orange
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,335 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
138,728 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $723k less ($125,500 vs $848,200)
Rent averages $1250/mo less ($898 vs $2,148)
28% cheaper overall cost of living than Orange
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Orange by $57,774/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 4.7%)
Orange, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,774 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Lawton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (226.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $848,200
Higher rents — median is $2,148/mo
Cost of living runs 28% higher than Lawton
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
28% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$723k less
$125,500 vs $848,200
Lawton
Summer Heat
13.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 82.5°F
Orange
Median Income
$57,774
$109,335 vs $51,561/yr
Orange
Violent Crime
72% lower
226.1 vs 820.3 per 100k
Orange
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Orange, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $848,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $2,148⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $109,335 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 40.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | Orange Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 138,728 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 36.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 58.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 14.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Orange's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orange leads 15 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 8 and Orange 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 Orange or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $848,200 median home), income ($51,561 vs $109,335), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Orange, CA are about 1,111 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.