Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Denton leads 12 of 22 categories
Denton
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,921 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262 ✓ Larger
Lafayette
Louisiana
10
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.
Denton, TX
Pros
81% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $13,071 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.8%)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Lafayette
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $61k less ($234,900 vs $296,100)
Rent averages $242/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,264)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Denton
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 56°F
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Denton by $13,071/yr
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Median Income
$13,071
$71,921 vs $58,850/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
81% lower
204.2 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Denton
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 91.0°F
Lafayette
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$61k less
$234,900 vs $296,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 | $234,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 40.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 ✓ Larger | 121,706 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Denton leads 12 of 22 categories. Denton wins 12 and Lafayette wins 10. 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 Denton to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $234,900 median home), income ($71,921 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and Lafayette, LA are about 365 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.