Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 San Francisco leads 13 of 23 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
91,023
San Francisco
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $1223k less ($125,500 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1418/mo less ($898 vs $2,316)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $85,128/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 5.4%)
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $85,128 more per year on average
27% less violent crime than Lawton
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than Lawton
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$1223k less
$125,500 vs $1,348,700
Lawton
Summer Heat
34.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$85,128
$136,689 vs $51,561/yr
San Francisco
Violent Crime
27% lower
596.5 vs 820.3 per 100k
San Francisco
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 13 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 10 and San Francisco wins 13. 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 San Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($51,561 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and San Francisco, CA are about 1,385 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.