Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Trenton, NJ
🏆 Lawton leads 17 of 22 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
91,023 ✓ Larger
Trenton
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$44,444
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
90,055
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
20% less violent crime than Trenton
Rent averages $279/mo less ($898 vs $1,177)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (7.7%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Trenton
Households earn $7,117 more per year on average
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
Trenton, NJ
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (1025.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Lawton
Median income trails Lawton by $7,117/yr
Higher unemployment (10.2% vs 7.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 102.1 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Income
$7,117
$51,561 vs $44,444/yr
Lawton
Violent Crime
20% lower
820.3 vs 1025.9 per 100k
Lawton
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
7.7% vs 10.2% unemployment
Lawton
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 86.5°F
Trenton
Median Home Value
$14k less
$111,200 vs $125,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Trenton, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 102.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 | $111,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,177 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 ✓ Higher | $44,444 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 26.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 5.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 206⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) ✓ Better | C (75) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% ✓ Higher | 15.6% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | Trenton Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" ✓ Drier | 47.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" ✓ Less | 26.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 ✓ Larger | 90,055 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 35.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% ✓ Higher | 38.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 25.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 12.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Trenton's 102.1 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lawton leads 17 of 22 categories. Lawton wins 17 and Trenton wins 5. 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 Trenton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $111,200 median home), income ($51,561 vs $44,444), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Trenton, NJ are about 1,350 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.