Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 Visalia leads 15 of 23 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
91,023
Visalia
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,658 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
141,466 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $191k less ($125,500 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $391/mo less ($898 vs $1,289)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Visalia
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Visalia by $24,097/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 5.6%)
Visalia, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,097 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Lawton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.6%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Lawton
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 101.3 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$191k less
$125,500 vs $316,600
Visalia
Median Income
$24,097
$75,658 vs $51,561/yr
Visalia
Violent Crime
47% lower
435.3 vs 820.3 per 100k
Visalia
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 101.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $316,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,289 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $75,658 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 23.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 86.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F | 55.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 93.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 141,466 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 33.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 28.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Visalia leads 15 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 8 and Visalia wins 15. 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $316,600 median home), income ($51,561 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Visalia, CA are about 1,180 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.