Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Lawton leads 12 of 23 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
91,023
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4
Median Household Income
$54,416 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
249,571 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $62k less ($125,500 vs $187,400)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Winston-Salem
Cons
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 6.2%)
Median income trails Winston-Salem by $2,855/yr
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.2%)
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 96°F
Households earn $2,855 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Lawton
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 91.4 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$62k less
$125,500 vs $187,400
Lawton
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 88.0°F
Winston-Salem
Median Income
$2,855
$54,416 vs $51,561/yr
Winston-Salem
Violent Crime
1% lower
809.7 vs 820.3 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 91.4 |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $187,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $956 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $54,416 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 21.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 87.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" ✓ Drier | 43.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 35.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 53.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 14.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawton leads 12 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 12 and Winston-Salem wins 11. 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 Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $187,400 median home), income ($51,561 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Winston-Salem, NC are about 1,027 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.