Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Roswell, GA
🏆 Roswell leads 17 of 23 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
91,023
Roswell
Georgia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,924 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
92,770 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $354k less ($125,500 vs $479,400)
Rent averages $721/mo less ($898 vs $1,619)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Roswell
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Cons
Median income trails Roswell by $71,363/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 4.3%)
Roswell, GA
Pros
Households earn $71,363 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Lawton
More college-educated — 63.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (160.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $479,400
Higher rents — median is $1,619/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Lawton
Longer commutes — 29.1 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$354k less
$125,500 vs $479,400
Lawton
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 89.4°F
Roswell
Median Income
$71,363
$122,924 vs $51,561/yr
Roswell
Violent Crime
80% lower
160.1 vs 820.3 per 100k
Roswell
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Roswell, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $479,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,619⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $122,924 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% | 25.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 45 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 42 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 14.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 63.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | Fulton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" ✓ Drier | 53.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" | 1.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 92,770 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 40.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 70.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Roswell's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Roswell leads 17 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 6 and Roswell wins 17. 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 Roswell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $479,400 median home), income ($51,561 vs $122,924), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Roswell, GA are about 803 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.