Lawton, OK vs Norman, OK
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Norman, OK outspends Lawton, OK by a wide margin per resident — $55,648 versus $10,275, a 442% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Lawton, OK holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 72/100 (grade B) against 42/100 (grade D) for Norman, OK — a 30-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Lawton, OK carries the lighter load at $147 per resident versus $781 for Norman, OK. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: parks and recreation leads in Lawton, OK at $852 per resident and in Norman, OK at $1,197.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Lawton, OK and 8% in Norman, OK.
Summary
Norman spends 81.5% more per capita than Lawton ($45,373/person difference). Lawton, OK has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 72/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $144 | $383 |
| Income Tax | $1,106 | $2,695 |
| Intergovernmental | $9,501 | $3,093 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,888 | $2,061 |
| Other | $2,336 | $1,341 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $126 | $258 |
| Education | $29 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $452 | $2,391 |
| Health | $134 | $49 |
| Hospitals | $440 | $162 |
| Parks & Recreation | $852 | $1,197 |
| Housing | $2,674 | $2,662 |
| Sewerage | $0 | $139 |
| Utilities | $1,441 | $2,276 |
| Interest on Debt | $391 | $536 |
| General Admin | $0 | $42,647 |
| Other | $3,736 | $3,331 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.