Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 12 of 23 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
91,023
Topeka
Kansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High
Population
126,431 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
4% less violent crime than Topeka
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 40°F
Cons
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 5.0%)
Topeka, KS
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
More college-educated — 28.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 89°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (856.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Violent Crime
4% lower
820.3 vs 856.5 per 100k
Lawton
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 88.5°F
Topeka
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 87.6 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Income
$2,491
$54,052 vs $51,561/yr
Topeka
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $926 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $54,052 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 17.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 28.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" ✓ Drier | 37.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 126,431 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 22.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Topeka leads 12 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 11 and Topeka wins 12. 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 Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $124,700 median home), income ($51,561 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Topeka, KS are about 340 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.