Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 13 of 22 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,076
Lafayette
Louisiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
51% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $5,629 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Higher rents — median is $1,385/mo
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lafayette
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $231k less ($234,900 vs $466,300)
Rent averages $363/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,385)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Arden-Arcade
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
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
Median income trails Arden-Arcade by $5,629/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Median Income
$5,629
$64,479 vs $58,850/yr
Arden-Arcade
Violent Crime
51% lower
518.1 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 91.0°F
Lafayette
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$231k less
$234,900 vs $466,300
Lafayette
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $234,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 121,706 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 13 of 22 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 9 and Lafayette wins 13. 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 Arden-Arcade to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $234,900 median home), income ($64,479 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Lafayette, LA are about 1,762 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.