Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Deltona, FL
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Deltona leads 10 of 19 categories
Deltona
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,074 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
94,373
Lafayette
Louisiana
9
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.
Deltona, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.0%)
Households earn $10,224 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 62°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,417/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Lafayette
Longer commutes — 34.4 min average each way
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Rent averages $395/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,417)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Deltona
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Deltona by $10,224/yr
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Deltona
Median Income
$10,224
$69,074 vs $58,850/yr
Deltona
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Lafayette
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 102.4 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Deltona, FL | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $226,800 ✓ Lower | $234,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,417⚠ High | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,074 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.4 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.1:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.6% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | VOLUSIA | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.1°F ✓ Warmer | 61.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.8" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,373 | 121,706 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.3% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Deltona's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Deltona leads 10 of 19 categories. Deltona wins 10 and Lafayette wins 9. 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 Deltona to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,800 vs $234,900 median home), income ($69,074 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Deltona, FL and Lafayette, LA are about 656 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.