Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 14 of 22 categories
El Monte
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682
Lafayette
Louisiana
14
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.
El Monte, CA
Pros
60% less violent crime than Lafayette
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 62°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 29% higher than Lafayette
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $362k less ($234,900 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $583/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,605)
29% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.1%)
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
El Monte
Median Income
$1,079
$59,929 vs $58,850/yr
El Monte
Violent Crime
60% lower
423.2 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Lafayette
Cost of Living
29% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$362k less
$234,900 vs $597,200
Lafayette
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.0% unemployment
Lafayette
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $234,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 61.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 121,706 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 14 of 22 categories. El Monte wins 8 and Lafayette wins 14. 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 El Monte to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $234,900 median home), income ($59,929 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Lafayette, LA are about 1,540 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.