City profile · Iowa · Census ACS 2023

Lawton, IA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Lawton - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

906
Residents
$90,278
Median income
$246,800
Median home
$1,154
Median rent (state)

Lawton - the verdict

Lawton ranks in the 71st percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

71st
percentile, household income
55th
percentile, home value
33rd
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Lawton, IA

Lawton is a small town in Iowa, home to 906 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $90,278 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 6.6%. Typical homes in Lawton are valued around $246,800, and the median resident age is 39.3 years. Educational attainment runs 40.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 74.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 2 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier.

Living costs in Iowa run below the national norm: the state registers 87.8 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Well Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,154 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Iowa run around $212, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 21.8 minutes, with 90.6% driving alone and 2.4% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 83.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

906 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Iowa

Median Household Income

$90,278 /yr

Poverty 6.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

87.8 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Iowa average

How does Lawton compare to other US cities?

Where Lawton sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 71% higher than other cities
Home value 55% pricier than other cities
Median rent 33% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Lawton against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Iowa only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Iowa-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher is Lawton's strongest outlier among Iowa cities

Among the 858 Iowa cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Lawton ranks #65 - the 92nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Lawton only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#95 of 845
89th percentile in Iowa
Median Gross Rent
#90 of 858
88th percentile in Iowa
Median Home Value
#77 of 849
91st percentile in Iowa
Poverty Rate
#385 of 858
54th percentile in Iowa
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#65 of 858
92nd percentile in Iowa

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Iowa only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

71stIncome percentile

71st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Lawton's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$246,800 45th percentile more affordable than 45% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Lawton $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Lawton, IA Lawton, IA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lawton, IA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Lawton, IA median $90,278/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Lawton, IA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Lawton, IA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 40.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 6.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 74.7%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
906
Median Income
$90,278
Median Home Value
$246,800
Median Age
39.3
Poverty Rate
6.6%
Labor force participation
74.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
40.2%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
930 residents935 residents940 residents945 residents950 residents 202020212022202320242025 945 residents 947 residents ▲ +0.2%
Lawton's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
2
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
2
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 2
2020 1
2021 1
2022 4
2023 2
2024 2

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
21.8 minutes
Drive Alone
90.6%
Carpool
5.9%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.2%
Work from Home
2.4%

Based on 509 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Iowa - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$75
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$212
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Iowa state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Iowa state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Lawton sits in

Cost of Living Index
87.8
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,154/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
83.3 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Iowa

Mechanicsville
906 people
Aurelia
905 people
Beaverdale
905 people
North English
907 people
Odebolt
905 people
Tabor
908 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lawton's 906 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Mechanicsville, CT
906 people
Ray City, GA
906 people
Coyne Center, IL
906 people
Troy, MT
906 people
Goshen, OH
906 people
Oak Grove, AL
905 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lawton's $90,278 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Sharon, MS
$90,278 median income
Glenburn, PA
$90,278 median income
Poland, OH
$90,281 median income
Gerrard, CO
$90,284 median income
Kingstown, MD
$90,288 median income
DeLisle, MS
$90,288 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lawton, IA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Lawton, IA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 97.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.1% White 97.0% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.8% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.2% Two or more races 2.0% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Lawton compares to nearby Iowa cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Lawton (this city) 906 $90,278
Mechanicsville 906 $76,190
Aurelia 905 $68,605
Beaverdale 905 $66,000
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IA NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lawton, IA?

What is the population of Lawton, IA? +

906 people live in Lawton, IA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Lawton, IA? +

The median household income in Lawton is $90,278 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lawton? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Lawton; the closest available measure is the Iowa state average, a cost of living index of 87.8 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Iowa vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Lawton, IA? +

Lawton's median home value sits at $246,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.