Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 12 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Lafayette
Louisiana
12
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.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $62,689 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Lafayette
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Lafayette
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $763k less ($234,900 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1606/mo less ($1,022 vs $2,628)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 37°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $62,689/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 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$62,689
$121,539 vs $58,850/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
59% lower
436.7 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Lafayette
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$763k less
$234,900 vs $997,600
Lafayette
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $234,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 40.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 121,706 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge'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 12 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 11 and Lafayette wins 12. 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 Cambridge to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $234,900 median home), income ($121,539 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Lafayette, LA are about 1,430 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.