Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Eugene leads 13 of 23 categories
Eugene
Oregon
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755 ✓ 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.
Eugene, OR
Pros
70% less violent crime than Lafayette
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Households earn $2,631 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Lafayette
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 6.1%)
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $171k less ($234,900 vs $406,000)
Rent averages $247/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,269)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 48°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
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
Median income trails Eugene by $2,631/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Eugene
Median Income
$2,631
$61,481 vs $58,850/yr
Eugene
Violent Crime
70% lower
317.9 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Lafayette
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$171k less
$234,900 vs $406,000
Lafayette
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.1% unemployment
Lafayette
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $234,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 40.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 ✓ Larger | 121,706 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 21.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 16.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Eugene leads 13 of 23 categories. Eugene wins 13 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 Eugene to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $234,900 median home), income ($61,481 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Lafayette, LA are about 1,945 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.