Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho 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
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
Median Household Income
$78,978 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($125,500 vs $246,700)
Rent averages $459/mo less ($898 vs $1,357)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Rio Rancho
Cons
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $27,417/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 5.5%)
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
61% less violent crime than Lawton
Households earn $27,417 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Lawton
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$121k less
$125,500 vs $246,700
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$27,417
$78,978 vs $51,561/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
61% lower
318.2 vs 820.3 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.5% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 93.0 |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $246,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 33.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 95.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 104,351 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 15 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 8 and Rio Rancho 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 Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $246,700 median home), income ($51,561 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Rio Rancho, NM are about 471 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.