Norman, OK vs Lawton, 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 Norman, OK at $1,197 per resident and in Lawton, OK at $852.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 8% of total revenue in Norman, OK and 100% in Lawton, OK.
Summary
Norman spends 441.6% 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 | $383 | $144 |
| Income Tax | $2,695 | $1,106 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,093 | $9,501 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,061 | $2,888 |
| Other | $1,341 | $2,336 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $258 | $126 |
| Education | $0 | $29 |
| Public Welfare | $2,391 | $452 |
| Health | $49 | $134 |
| Hospitals | $162 | $440 |
| Parks & Recreation | $1,197 | $852 |
| Housing | $2,662 | $2,674 |
| Sewerage | $139 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,276 | $1,441 |
| Interest on Debt | $536 | $391 |
| General Admin | $42,647 | $0 |
| Other | $3,331 | $3,736 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.