Relocation profile · Federal data
Lawton, OK
BEA RPP 85.9 ranks #21 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
- 85.9
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,001
- 2BR rent / mo
- $56,942
- Median salary
- 53.4
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Lawton ranks #161 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (53.4/100), with its strongest marks in climate and cost of living.
- #161
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 4,095,393
- metro-area population
- 428
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,778
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: job market (2/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Lawton ranks #161 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 85.9 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,001/mo, median salary $56,942; LiveAbility Score 53.4/100, strongest in climate and cost of living.
Signature: BEA RPP 85.9 ranks #21 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 85.9 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,001/mo.
LiveAbility 53.4/100 keeps Lawton in the middle third (#161 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Lawton area is 36,440.
Lawton vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
53 Top 42% higher than 58% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Lawton housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Lawton MSA; housing RPP 57.4 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,001/mo.
Lawton wages and employment
Lawton posts 36,440 total employment with median salary $56,942 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | $28,150 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,430 |
| Cashiers | $27,250 |
| Office Clerks, General | $35,370 |
| Registered Nurses | $80,570 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Lawton area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Lawton area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Lawton's composite Life Score is 57.1/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Lawton ranks #161 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 53.4/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Lawton - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Climate
Climate
96 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
95 /100
- Housing
Housing
92 /100
- Air quality
Air quality
57 /100
- Schools
Schools
39 /100
- Safety 23
Safety
23 /100
- Low hazard 14
Low hazard
14 /100
- Job market 2
Job market
2 /100
What this shows Lawton's strongest dimensions are climate and cost of living; its weakest among scored dims is job market at 2/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Lawton to
Metros near Lawton on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Lawton on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Lawton cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Lawton wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Lawton?
Lawton runs a $56,942 median salary at a 85.9 cost index, ranking #161 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Lawton's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Lawton head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Lawton
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.