Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boston, MA
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 13 of 23 categories
Boston
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,212 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
165⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
665,945 ✓ Larger
Lafayette
Louisiana
13
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.
Boston, MA
Pros
Households earn $30,362 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Lafayette
More college-educated — 53.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $684,900
Higher rents — median is $1,981/mo
Violent crime (627.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Lafayette
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $450k less ($234,900 vs $684,900)
Rent averages $959/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,981)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Boston
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 37°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Cons
Median income trails Boston by $30,362/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
Boston
Median Income
$30,362
$89,212 vs $58,850/yr
Boston
Violent Crime
41% lower
627.9 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Lafayette
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$450k less
$234,900 vs $684,900
Lafayette
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Lafayette
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 82.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boston, MA | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $684,900⚠ High | $234,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,981⚠ High | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $89,212 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.1% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.4% ✓ Higher | 40.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.4% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boston | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.1°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.6" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 665,945 ✓ Larger | 121,706 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 34.8% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.7% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boston's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 13 of 23 categories. Boston wins 10 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 Boston to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($684,900 vs $234,900 median home), income ($89,212 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boston, MA and Lafayette, LA are about 1,433 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.