Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 14 of 23 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99 ✓ Safer
Population
94,826
Lafayette
Louisiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850 ✓ Higher
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.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $133k less ($101,500 vs $234,900)
65% less violent crime than Lafayette
Rent averages $213/mo less ($809 vs $1,022)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Lafayette by $15,715/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 6.1%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Lafayette
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Households earn $15,715 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Erie
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
Erie
Violent Crime
65% lower
375.6 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Erie
Median Home Value
$133k less
$101,500 vs $234,900
Lafayette
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 91.5 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Income
$15,715
$58,850 vs $43,135/yr
Lafayette
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.8% unemployment
Lafayette
Summer Heat
9.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $234,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,022 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $58,850 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 121,706 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 14 of 23 categories. Erie wins 9 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 Erie to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $234,900 median home), income ($43,135 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Lafayette, LA are about 1,057 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.