Don't move to Lawton unless you have to
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10/29/2010
Terrible town. Not enough public events to keep population in town for entertainment unless you go to sleezy run down bars. Biggest attraction for teenagers is going to a movie which isn't bad but kids do get bored. The race tracks are substandard. Dirt track is in need of upgrades and the talent driving there isn't worth paying the price to watch. Streets are terrible and there are hardly any sidewalks for exercise or family bike rides. Crime is out of control because there isn't enough jobs and people are robbing each other just to get by or feed their drug habits. Cost of housing is very high compared to other major cities. Compare the "per foot" prices between OKC, Tulsa, Newcastle or Norman to Lawton and you'll see a big difference. There are a lot of shady businesses in Lawton who take avantage of the town being about 50 miles away from any other larger city. I had one bike shop tell me that they charge a "convience fee" so people don't have to drive to Altus...about a 60% markup...Sure they have the a few public places that hold events but they are poorly organized and lacks quality plus there are only a few events each year. You have to go to OKC or Dallas if you want to do any decent shopping and get good deals. Thanks to the internet, you can shop from home. The only pro is traffic isn't as bad as larger cities. Not very good, but not as congested as rush hour traffic in OKC or Tulsa. There are some great people living here and we've made some terrific friends during our time in Lawton but there is good and bad in any town. Lawton just needs to address their problems because the total package just needs a lot of help. If you have a nice sports car, don't drive it on Lawton streets. Very bumpy...better off with a 4 wheel drive or large SUV...
Coach | Lawton, OK