Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
91,023
Richmond
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $499k less ($125,500 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $955/mo less ($898 vs $1,853)
31% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
11% less violent crime than Richmond
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $35,057/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 6.9%)
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,057 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (6.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 96°F
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Cost of living runs 31% higher than Lawton
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
31% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Violent Crime
11% lower
820.3 vs 923.1 per 100k
Lawton
Median Home Value
$499k less
$125,500 vs $624,800
Lawton
Summer Heat
25.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$35,057
$86,618 vs $51,561/yr
Richmond
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
6.9% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | C+ (86) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 115,619 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 31% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawton leads 12 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 12 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $624,800 median home), income ($51,561 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Richmond, CA are about 1,349 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.