Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 Lawton leads 13 of 23 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
91,023
Washington
District of Columbia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $580k less ($125,500 vs $705,000)
Rent averages $919/mo less ($898 vs $1,817)
11% less violent crime than Washington
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Washington
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $50,161/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
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $50,161 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (7.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Lawton
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Violent Crime
11% lower
820.3 vs 925.9 per 100k
Lawton
Median Home Value
$580k less
$125,500 vs $705,000
Lawton
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 89.8°F
Washington
Median Income
$50,161
$101,722 vs $51,561/yr
Washington
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
7.1% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 7.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" ✓ Drier | 45.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawton leads 13 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 13 and Washington wins 10. 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $705,000 median home), income ($51,561 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Washington, DC are about 1,218 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.