Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 Vista leads 14 of 23 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
91,023
Vista
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,715 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
98,392 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $497k less ($125,500 vs $622,900)
Rent averages $1104/mo less ($898 vs $2,002)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Vista
Commutes run 11 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 Vista by $37,154/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 6.3%)
Vista, CA
Pros
Households earn $37,154 more per year on average
61% less violent crime than Lawton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 51°F
More college-educated — 27.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Lawton
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$497k less
$125,500 vs $622,900
Lawton
Summer Heat
17.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 78.9°F
Vista
Median Income
$37,154
$88,715 vs $51,561/yr
Vista
Violent Crime
61% lower
316.4 vs 820.3 per 100k
Vista
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $88,715 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 11.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 66 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 27.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 98,392 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vista leads 14 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 9 and Vista wins 14. 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $622,900 median home), income ($51,561 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Vista, CA are about 1,082 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.