Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington 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
Wilmington
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$58,908 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,933 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $193k less ($125,500 vs $318,600)
Rent averages $315/mo less ($898 vs $1,213)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Wilmington
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Cons
Violent crime (820.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Wilmington by $7,347/yr
Property crime (2652.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 4.9%)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
41% less violent crime than Lawton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.9%)
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,347 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 51°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Lawton
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$193k less
$125,500 vs $318,600
Lawton
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 90.0°F
Wilmington
Median Income
$7,347
$58,908 vs $51,561/yr
Wilmington
Violent Crime
41% lower
482.8 vs 820.3 per 100k
Wilmington
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.9% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $58,908 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 45.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 15 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 8 and Wilmington 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $318,600 median home), income ($51,561 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Wilmington, NC are about 1,169 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.