Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 14 of 23 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
91,023
Tampa
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $208k less ($125,500 vs $333,200)
Rent averages $524/mo less ($898 vs $1,422)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Tampa
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (820.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Tampa by $15,241/yr
Property crime (2652.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.2%)
Tampa, FL
Pros
46% less violent crime than Lawton
Households earn $15,241 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Higher rents — median is $1,422/mo
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Lawton
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$208k less
$125,500 vs $333,200
Lawton
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 91.0°F
Tampa
Median Income
$15,241
$66,802 vs $51,561/yr
Tampa
Violent Crime
46% lower
444.6 vs 820.3 per 100k
Tampa
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,422⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $66,802 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F | 71.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" ✓ Drier | 49.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 35.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 50.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tampa leads 14 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 9 and Tampa wins 14. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $333,200 median home), income ($51,561 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Tampa, FL are about 1,046 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.