Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
393,469 ✓ Larger
Lafayette
Louisiana
11
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.
Arlington, TX
Pros
55% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $12,886 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Lafayette
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Rent averages $275/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,297)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Arlington
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Homes cost $16k less ($234,900 vs $251,300)
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Arlington by $12,886/yr
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Median Income
$12,886
$71,736 vs $58,850/yr
Arlington
Violent Crime
55% lower
482.9 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Arlington
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 91.0°F
Lafayette
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$16k less
$234,900 vs $251,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 | $234,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 121,706 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 12 of 23 categories. Arlington wins 12 and Lafayette wins 11. 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 Arlington to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $234,900 median home), income ($71,736 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Lafayette, LA are about 346 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.