Hello everyone , I am trying to get some info about the Lawton area, as my hubby and I are going to be comeing in a week to check into a job offer he recieved. We currantly live near Fort Riley. I have two teens ( both boys) and would love to hear the good and the bad so that we can get a reallly good idea of what we should expect. I know that not everyone likes where they live lol, and that jobs vary by trade, but really just looking to see what the average Joe thinks about Lawton / Fort Sill , not the busniesses or leasing agents. So please tell me the scoop, I wish someone had told me more about where I am now because it truely is Fort Hell in the Hills, Thanks 

If you think Ft. Riley is H3LL, then you're really not going to like Lawton! I've lived at Ft. Riley and loved it, but was young. Live away from Lawton in the smaller towns(less crime). 

Elgin or Cache are the two most popular I would say, Walters, Geronimo are close too. I love the Elgin school and open enroll my kids out there. I drive lots of miles every day to make that happen. I dont mind Lawton, but dont have much to do with it either. I am on post and am happy here.
Good Luck 

If you are in the military then you have it made here. If you are not then good luck having a life really. Schools are good. Stay out of Eisenhower are for schools. Lots of wanna be thugs there. Lawton high and Mac have awesome sports for boys. Elgin sschool is better but if you live there then your boys are gonna be bored as the dickens. Nothing for kids. Lawton is kinda the same thou too. Lots of bars and more churches then you can shake a stick at. I live between Lawton and Duncan and it is okay here. I wouldnt live inside Lawton if my life depended on it to tell the truth. Crime is getting bad and will start to get worse now that a lot of people are moving here. Just tends to happen. Good luck and God speed. 

No we are not "military" by trade, but we are professionals ( hearing Specialist - similar to Audiologist) so the finances are not a concern for us. I just don't want to be in a place that is as rundown as where we are now. I am currantly in Junction City , and have been for almost 3 years .( In a way you could joke my life is like the Army in the sense we move evey so often do to work lol ; just not with the benefits of the Army) We moved here from Florida and I have tried to make the best of it, but honestly it is difficult with teens. I have one in high school ( a junior currantly ) and an 8th grader. The schools here are horrible, most of the schools are overcrowded, there are not any teen programs, and unless you like football , that's about it . I did find a children's theater group , which has been the one great thing here. But the cost of living is out of this world compaired to all the other places I have lived. A decent , not fancy home here is $1100 - $1500 per month. The water is expensive, as is most groceries , never have I paied so much for so little. And the mentallity of most adults here seems to be entitlement for everything. I have made very few friends here , as have my sons and husband due to the lack of respect to other's person or property. I don't like Manhattan either due to the college issues,costant construction, and lack of good shopping. I am not a picky person , just looking for a haven from the madness lol. So I guess I shall see when I fly down this weekend. Thanks everyone. 

I really suggest you drive the around alot when you get here and see Lawton for yourself. I just got here from Ft. Riley. Your going to encounter inflated prices in every town that is located next to a military post because people know what the military gets paid for houseing and such and they take advantage of it. The rent prices here are about the same as JC. As for shopping, right now your probably making the drive to Topeka or Salina. Get ready to either drive to OK City, which is an 1 hr 20 min and then some depending on where your going in the city or to Wichita Falls, TX, 40 min. Lawton could be compared to Manhattan in regards to the shopping but they don't have a Target. I'm not impressed with schools in town. My son is in elementary school and by far Eisenhower in JC has been the best school we have encountered. From what I have observed here, not alot for kids to do, same as JC. Definately gang problems here and wanna be's and crime is rising. No offense to all you born and raised here. The town just doesn't seem to offer mcuh unless your into clubbing and eating.