Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Elk Grove
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Lafayette
Louisiana
11
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.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,014 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Lafayette
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lafayette
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $326k less ($234,900 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $1054/mo less ($1,022 vs $2,076)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $57,014/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$57,014
$115,864 vs $58,850/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
82% lower
189.9 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Lafayette
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$326k less
$234,900 vs $560,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $234,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 121,706 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Elk Grove wins 11 and Lafayette wins 11. 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 Elk Grove to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $234,900 median home), income ($115,864 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Lafayette, LA are about 1,760 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.