Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 15 of 23 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
91,023
Sunnyvale
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $1555k less ($125,500 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $2092/mo less ($898 vs $2,990)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
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 Sunnyvale by $122,945/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 4.1%)
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $122,945 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Lawton
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Lawton
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$1555k less
$125,500 vs $1,680,700
Lawton
Summer Heat
19.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$122,945
$174,506 vs $51,561/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
70% lower
244.5 vs 820.3 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 35.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 12.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 15 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 8 and Sunnyvale wins 15. 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 Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($51,561 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Sunnyvale, CA are about 1,330 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.