Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lawton, OK
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 13 of 22 categories
Lawton
Oklahoma
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,561
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High
Population
91,023
Yuma
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$59,312 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lawton, OK
Pros
Homes cost $61k less ($125,500 vs $186,500)
Rent averages $130/mo less ($898 vs $1,028)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 96°F vs 107°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Yuma
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (820.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Yuma by $7,751/yr
Property crime (2652.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Yuma, AZ
Pros
48% less violent crime than Lawton
Households earn $7,751 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 51°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Lawton
Key Differences at a Glance
Lawton
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 87.6 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Lawton
Median Home Value
$61k less
$125,500 vs $186,500
Yuma
Median Income
$7,751
$59,312 vs $51,561/yr
Yuma
Violent Crime
48% lower
423.6 vs 820.3 per 100k
Yuma
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 95.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lawton, OK | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.6 ✓ Cheaper | 93.4 |
| Median Home Value | $125,500 ✓ Lower | $186,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $898 ✓ Lower | $1,028 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,561 | $59,312 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.2 min ✓ Shorter | 17.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 12.9% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LAWTON | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.4°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.2" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,023 | 96,314 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 32.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lawton's cost of living index is 87.6 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Lawton is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Yuma leads 13 of 22 categories. Lawton wins 9 and Yuma wins 13. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($125,500 vs $186,500 median home), income ($51,561 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lawton, OK and Yuma, AZ are about 937 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.