Lawton, IA vs Melvin, IA

The cost of living difference between Lawton, IA and Melvin, IA is dramatic. Melvin is 42% cheaper than Lawton, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Lawton has a cost index of 77 while Melvin sits at 54, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Lawton is $854/month compared to $600/month in Melvin — a 42% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Melvin is more affordable at $51,500 median vs $246,800.

Median household income in Lawton is $90,278 compared to $65,795 in Melvin (+37.2%). The higher salaries in Lawton partially offset the cost difference, but don't fully close the gap. Looking at affordability, residents of Lawton spend roughly 11.4% of their income on rent, more than the 10.9% in Melvin.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (48.4°F vs 46.8°F). Lawton receives more rainfall at 29.3" per year compared to 26.8" in Melvin.