Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Concord, NC
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Concord leads 15 of 23 categories
Concord
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0
Median Household Income
$83,480 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
42 ✓ Safer
Population
105,335
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.
Concord, NC
Pros
85% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $24,630 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (159.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.7%)
Cons
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Lafayette
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Rent averages $237/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,259)
Homes cost $53k less ($234,900 vs $288,100)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Concord
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 53°F
Cons
Median income trails Concord by $24,630/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 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Concord
Median Income
$24,630
$83,480 vs $58,850/yr
Concord
Violent Crime
85% lower
159.0 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Concord
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.1% unemployment
Lafayette
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 97.0 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$53k less
$234,900 vs $288,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Concord, NC | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.0 | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $288,100 | $234,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,259 | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,480 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 46 ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.8% ✓ Higher | 40.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cabarrus County Schools | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 52.8°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.0" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,335 | 121,706 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.4% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Concord's cost of living index is 97.0 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Concord leads 15 of 23 categories. Concord wins 15 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 Concord to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($288,100 vs $234,900 median home), income ($83,480 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Concord, NC and Lafayette, LA are about 752 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.