Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Santa Maria, 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
Population
91,023
Santa Maria
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
109,543 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $313k less ($125,500 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $870/mo less ($898 vs $1,768)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 22.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Maria by $29,676/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 6.3%)
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,676 more per year on average
19% less violent crime than Lawton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Lawton
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$313k less
$125,500 vs $438,100
Lawton
Summer Heat
22.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Income
$29,676
$81,237 vs $51,561/yr
Santa Maria
Violent Crime
19% lower
660.6 vs 820.3 per 100k
Santa Maria
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 109,543 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 51.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawton leads 12 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 12 and Santa Maria 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 Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $438,100 median home), income ($51,561 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Santa Maria, CA are about 1,247 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.