Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks 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
Sparks
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $298k less ($125,500 vs $423,500)
Rent averages $628/mo less ($898 vs $1,526)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
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
Median income trails Sparks by $31,377/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 6.1%)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $31,377 more per year on average
52% less violent crime than Lawton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.1%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Lawton
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$298k less
$125,500 vs $423,500
Lawton
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 92.1°F
Sparks
Median Income
$31,377
$82,938 vs $51,561/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
52% lower
394.4 vs 820.3 per 100k
Sparks
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 25.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 85.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 92.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 108,025 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 13 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 10 and Sparks 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 Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $423,500 median home), income ($51,561 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Sparks, NV are about 1,219 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.