Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Lawton leads 14 of 23 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
91,023
Tacoma
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $290k less ($125,500 vs $415,300)
Rent averages $591/mo less ($898 vs $1,489)
23% less violent crime than Tacoma
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $27,524/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%)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $27,524 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 96°F
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Lawton
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Violent Crime
23% lower
820.3 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Lawton
Median Home Value
$290k less
$125,500 vs $415,300
Lawton
Summer Heat
19.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$27,524
$79,085 vs $51,561/yr
Tacoma
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 12.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 56.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawton leads 14 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 14 and Tacoma wins 9. 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $415,300 median home), income ($51,561 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Tacoma, WA are about 1,518 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.