Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Lafayette
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $54,329 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Lafayette
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lafayette
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $421k less ($234,900 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $961/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,983)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $54,329/yr
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$54,329
$113,179 vs $58,850/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
79% lower
219.1 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Lafayette
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$421k less
$234,900 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $234,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 40.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 121,706 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 13 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 13 and Lafayette wins 10. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alexandria to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $234,900 median home), income ($113,179 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Lafayette, LA are about 1,036 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.