Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem leads 12 of 23 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
91,023
Salem
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $224k less ($125,500 vs $349,500)
Rent averages $326/mo less ($898 vs $1,224)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Salem
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
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 Salem by $15,979/yr
Property crime (2652.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 6.1%)
Salem, OR
Pros
35% less violent crime than Lawton
Households earn $15,979 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Lawton
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$224k less
$125,500 vs $349,500
Lawton
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Median Income
$15,979
$67,540 vs $51,561/yr
Salem
Violent Crime
35% lower
532.2 vs 820.3 per 100k
Salem
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,224 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $67,540 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 12.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 137⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 88.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 54.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 12 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 11 and Salem wins 12. 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $349,500 median home), income ($51,561 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Salem, OR are about 1,479 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.