NAICS 44-45

Retail Trade in Lawton, OK

Metro Market Score 56.0 (Challenging), ranked #208 of 378 metros. 413 establishments, 5,148 jobs.

Metro Market Assessment

Metro Market Score 56.0
Favorable 0-35
Moderate 35-48
Challenging 48-60
Difficult 60+
Challenging

ⓘ Lower is better. Relative to national retail trade average.

⚡Rising Wages

Lawton's retail trade sector saw employment decline over the past year (growth trend: 14.0). That contraction, combined with a 56.0 market score, puts this metro in the lower half for market conditions. Understand why the local market is shrinking before committing.

Industry Concentration
61.1
LQ: 1.19
Rank #231 of 378 metros
Wage Competitiveness
1.1
$31,603 avg wage
Growth Trend
↓ 14.0
Employment growth index
Rank #326 of 378 metros
Wage Pressure
73.1
YoY wage change index

413 Retail Trade Firms in Lawton

413
Establishments
-6.8% YoY
5,148
Total Employment
-2.5% YoY
$31,603
Average Annual Wage
+2.2% YoY
1.19
Location Quotient
Above national avg

Lawton vs Oklahoma Statewide

How this metro's retail trade market compares to Oklahoma overall. The state ranks #35/51 for entry risk.

Measure Lawton OK Statewide
Overall Score 56.0 Challenging 46.3 Elevated
Score Type Metro Market Score Entry Risk Score
Rank #208 of 378 metros #35 of 51 states

Metro and state scores use different methodologies (metro has 4 QCEW-based metrics; state adds BDS survival and momentum data). Direct score comparisons are approximate.

Other Industries in Lawton

Construction 11.9 Healthcare and Social Assistance 29.4 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services 38.3 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 41.8 Finance and Insurance 52.4

Retail Trade in Other Oklahoma Metros

Oklahoma City 46.1 #91/378 Enid 50.1 #143/378 Tulsa 51.0 #151/378

About Metro Market Score: A weighted composite of industry concentration (25%), wage competitiveness (25%), wage pressure (20%), and employment growth trend (30%). Lower scores indicate more favorable conditions. For Lawton's retail trade sector, the employment growth component (86.0) has the strongest pull on the composite. Metro scores use QCEW data only (no BDS survival data at metro level). Read full methodology →

Data Sources

Data period: 2024. Last updated: April 2026.