Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 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
Yakima
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,764 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $118k less ($125,500 vs $243,300)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Yakima
Rent averages $116/mo less ($898 vs $1,014)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 40°F
More college-educated — 22.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Median income trails Yakima by $4,173/yr
Yakima, WA
Pros
34% less violent crime than Lawton
Households earn $4,173 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Lawton
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$118k less
$125,500 vs $243,300
Lawton
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 88.3°F
Yakima
Median Income
$4,173
$55,734 vs $51,561/yr
Yakima
Violent Crime
34% lower
544.3 vs 820.3 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $243,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,014 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $55,734 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 17.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | C (79) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 96,764 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 33.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 53.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lawton leads 12 of 23 categories. Lawton wins 12 and Yakima 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $243,300 median home), income ($51,561 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Yakima, WA are about 1,417 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.