Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Boca Raton leads 14 of 22 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Lafayette
Louisiana
8
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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
84% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $36,720 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 62°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Lafayette
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $362k less ($234,900 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $1148/mo less ($1,022 vs $2,170)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $36,720/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$36,720
$95,570 vs $58,850/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
84% lower
171.0 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Lafayette
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$362k less
$234,900 vs $597,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $234,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 40.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 61.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 64.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 121,706 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 16.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 14 of 22 categories. Boca Raton wins 14 and Lafayette wins 8. 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 Boca Raton to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $234,900 median home), income ($95,570 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Lafayette, LA are about 772 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.