Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Lawton leads 12 of 21 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
Worcester
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $180k less ($125,500 vs $305,600)
Rent averages $414/mo less ($898 vs $1,312)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 32°F
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 Worcester by $11,450/yr
Property crime (2652.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 6.6%)
Worcester, MA
Pros
98% less violent crime than Lawton
Households earn $11,450 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 96°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Lawton
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$180k less
$125,500 vs $305,600
Lawton
Summer Heat
16.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$11,450
$63,011 vs $51,561/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
98% lower
16.5 vs 820.3 per 100k
Worcester
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 34.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 13.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Lawton leads 12 of 21 categories. Lawton wins 12 and Worcester wins 9. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $305,600 median home), income ($51,561 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Worcester, MA are about 1,526 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.