Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 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
Thornton
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $320k less ($125,500 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $860/mo less ($898 vs $1,758)
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $43,503/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 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
Households earn $43,503 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Lawton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Lawton
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$320k less
$125,500 vs $445,200
Lawton
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 91.1°F
Thornton
Median Income
$43,503
$95,064 vs $51,561/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
67% lower
273.6 vs 820.3 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 141,799 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 33.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawton leads 12 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 12 and Thornton 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 Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $445,200 median home), income ($51,561 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Thornton, CO are about 512 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.