Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 13 of 23 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
91,023
Virginia Beach
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $218k less ($125,500 vs $343,700)
Rent averages $670/mo less ($898 vs $1,568)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Virginia Beach
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $35,983/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 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
89% less violent crime than Lawton
Households earn $35,983 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Lawton
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$218k less
$125,500 vs $343,700
Lawton
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 87.4°F
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$35,983
$87,544 vs $51,561/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
89% lower
92.3 vs 820.3 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 15.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 13 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 10 and Virginia Beach wins 13. 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $343,700 median home), income ($51,561 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Virginia Beach, VA are about 1,262 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.