Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellevue, WA
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Bellevue leads 12 of 23 categories
Bellevue
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,551 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
150,606 ✓ 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.
Bellevue, WA
Pros
Households earn $90,701 more per year on average
87% less violent crime than Lafayette
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.0%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.6 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,139,500
Higher rents — median is $2,422/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Lafayette
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $905k less ($234,900 vs $1,139,500)
Rent averages $1400/mo less ($1,022 vs $2,422)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Bellevue
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Median income trails Bellevue by $90,701/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 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellevue
Median Income
$90,701
$149,551 vs $58,850/yr
Bellevue
Violent Crime
87% lower
138.6 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Bellevue
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Lafayette
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$905k less
$234,900 vs $1,139,500
Lafayette
Summer Heat
14.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 76.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellevue, WA | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,139,500⚠ High | $234,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,422⚠ High | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $149,551 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 29.9% ✓ 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 | 36 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.8:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 70.0% ✓ Higher | 40.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.9% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellevue School District | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.4°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.5°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.9" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,606 ✓ Larger | 121,706 |
| Median Age | 38.3 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.7% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellevue's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Bellevue leads 12 of 23 categories. Bellevue 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 Bellevue to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,139,500 vs $234,900 median home), income ($149,551 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellevue, WA and Lafayette, LA are about 1,996 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.