Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 14 of 20 categories
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Lafayette
Louisiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850 ✓ Higher
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.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $93k less ($141,900 vs $234,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Lafayette by $8,358/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 6.1%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Lafayette
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (6.1%)
Households earn $8,358 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Augusta-Richmond County
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$93k less
$141,900 vs $234,900
Augusta-Richmond County
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 91.0°F
Lafayette
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 91.0 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Income
$8,358
$58,850 vs $50,492/yr
Lafayette
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $234,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $58,850 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 121,706 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 14 of 20 categories. Augusta-Richmond County wins 6 and Lafayette wins 14. 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 Augusta-Richmond County to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $234,900 median home), income ($50,492 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Lafayette, LA are about 624 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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