Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, GA
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbus
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.8
Median Household Income
$54,561
Violent Crime Index
159⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
204,572 ✓ Larger
Lafayette
Louisiana
12
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.
Columbus, GA
Pros
43% less violent crime than Lafayette
Homes cost $67k less ($168,400 vs $234,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.8)
Smaller class sizes — 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (603.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 6.1%)
Median income trails Lafayette by $4,289/yr
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Households earn $4,289 more per year on average
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
Columbus
Violent Crime
43% lower
603.8 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Columbus
Median Home Value
$67k less
$168,400 vs $234,900
Lafayette
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 88.8 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Income
$4,289
$58,850 vs $54,561/yr
Lafayette
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, GA | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.8 | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,400 ✓ Lower | $234,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,038 | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,561 | $58,850 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.2 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 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 | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.5% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Muscogee County | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.5°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 204,572 ✓ Larger | 121,706 |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.5% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.1% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 88.8 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbus 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 Columbus to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,400 vs $234,900 median home), income ($54,561 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, GA and Lafayette, LA are about 451 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.