Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Orlando, FL
🏆 Lawton leads 14 of 23 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
91,023
Orlando
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $207k less ($125,500 vs $332,700)
Rent averages $611/mo less ($898 vs $1,509)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Orlando
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (820.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Orlando by $14,731/yr
Property crime (2652.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.2%)
Orlando, FL
Pros
Households earn $14,731 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $332,700
Higher rents — median is $1,509/mo
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Lawton
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 101.1 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Violent Crime
2% lower
820.3 vs 835.8 per 100k
Lawton
Median Home Value
$207k less
$125,500 vs $332,700
Lawton
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 92.0°F
Orlando
Median Income
$14,731
$66,292 vs $51,561/yr
Orlando
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Orlando, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 101.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $332,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,509⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $66,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 209⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | ORANGE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 92.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" ✓ Drier | 51.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 307,738 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Orlando's 101.1 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawton leads 14 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 14 and Orlando wins 9. 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 Orlando or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $332,700 median home), income ($51,561 vs $66,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Orlando, FL are about 1,097 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.