City Comparison
Lawton vs New York City
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Lawton scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Lawton
New York City
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Lawton is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
61% lower than in New York City.
Housing costs are a major driver: Lawton's average rent is
72% lower than New York City's.
| Metric | Lawton | New York City | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $3,382 | -72% |
| Groceries | $380 | $520 | -27% |
| Utilities | $170 | $370 | -54% |
| Transport | $110 | $130 | -15% |
| Healthcare | $220 | $250 | -12% |
| Monthly Total | $1,830 | $4,652 | -61% |
| Cost Index | 82 | 178 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
New York City offers 49% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Lawton delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Lawton is estimated at
$42,000 vs $61,000 in New York City.
| Metric | Lawton | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $51,500 | $100,877 |
| Salary Needed | $42,000 | $61,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 62,805 idx | 56,672 idx |
| Household Income | $54,200 | $80,483 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Lawton runs warmer on average — a 64.5°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Lawton comes out ahead with 292 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Lawton sees 3.9 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Lawton | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 64.50°F | °F |
| Summer High | 90.10°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 32.20°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 36.20 in | in |
| Snowfall | 3.90 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 292 | |
| Humidity | 62.00% | 63.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Lawton has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
13,000 minutes (217 hours) per year compared to New York City.
New York City scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, New York City leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Lawton | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 17 min | 43 min |
| Transit Score | 32.0/100 | 88.0/100 |
| Walkability | 36.0/100 | 89.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 38.00 | 167.60 |
| Car Dependency | High | Low |
Population
Economy & Demographics
New York City is the larger city
.
From a growth perspective, Lawton is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Lawton has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Lawton | New York City |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 90,305 | 8,585,000 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.40% | — |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 38.2 |
| Unemployment | 4.30% | 4.90% |
| GDP | — | $1,354.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Lawton
Advantages
Median home prices and overall cost of living sit significantly below the U.S. national average per Census and Zillow data.
Proximity to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge offers world-class outdoor recreation, hiking, and wildlife viewing minutes from town.
Short average commute times of under 20 minutes reduce daily stress compared to major metropolitan areas.
Strong institutional economic stability anchored by Fort Sill and major regional healthcare providers.
Welcoming community atmosphere with rich Native American heritage and diverse cultural events.
Drawbacks
High car dependency with limited public transit infrastructure across the metropolitan area.
Local job market can be overly reliant on federal and military spending cycles.
Summers experience prolonged stretches of high temperatures exceeding 90°F.
Property crime rates in certain central urban districts require standard preventative awareness.
Limited high-end entertainment and nightlife options compared to larger Oklahoma cities like OKC or Tulsa.
New York City
Advantages
New York City is the most linguistically diverse city globally, with an estimated 800 languages spoken.
The city boasts a world-class public transportation system, with a transit score of 88 and a walkability score of 89.
New York City's private sector employment reached a record high of 4.25 million jobs in December 2024.
Overall index crime in New York City saw a nearly 3% reduction in 2024, marking the second consecutive year of declines.
New York City is a global hub for finance, media, tech, healthcare, and tourism, offering unparalleled opportunities.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in New York City is 78% higher than the national average, making it one of the most expensive cities globally.
Median rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Manhattan reached $4,595 in April 2024.
The city experienced a population decline of 12,000 residents between June 2024 and July 2025.
New York City has a high traffic index of 167.6 and an average commute time of 43.34 minutes.
Housing affordability has reached a crisis due to high costs and a slow pace of new housing construction.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Lawton
#259Oklahoma, USA
62.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$51,500
Cost Index
82
Commute
17 min
Transit Score
32.0/100
Walkability
36.0/100
Sunny Days
292/yr
Avg Temp
64.50°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
4.30%
Livability
72
Business
67
New York City
#584New York, USA
45.2 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$3,382
Avg Salary
$100,877
Cost Index
178
Commute
43 min
Transit Score
88.0/100
Walkability
89.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.90%
Livability
70
Business
62
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