Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Vallejo leads 12 of 23 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
91,023
Vallejo
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,132 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $390k less ($125,500 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $996/mo less ($898 vs $1,894)
Commutes run 21 min shorter each way
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vallejo by $34,551/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 7.0%)
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,551 more per year on average
10% less violent crime than Lawton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (7.0%)
More college-educated — 27.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lawton
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$390k less
$125,500 vs $515,500
Lawton
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 85.4°F
Vallejo
Median Income
$34,551
$86,112 vs $51,561/yr
Vallejo
Violent Crime
10% lower
739.8 vs 820.3 per 100k
Vallejo
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
7.0% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Vallejo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 7.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 190⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | C (81) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 27.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 125,132 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 58.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 17.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vallejo leads 12 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 11 and Vallejo 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $515,500 median home), income ($51,561 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Vallejo, CA are about 1,344 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.