Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 13 of 22 categories
Fairfield
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
119,420
Lafayette
Louisiana
13
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.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $40,007 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Lafayette
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lafayette
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $311k less ($234,900 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $1025/mo less ($1,022 vs $2,047)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $40,007/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
Fairfield
Median Income
$40,007
$98,857 vs $58,850/yr
Fairfield
Violent Crime
53% lower
498.0 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Fairfield
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Lafayette
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$311k less
$234,900 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $234,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 121,706 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 13 of 22 categories. Fairfield wins 9 and Lafayette wins 13. 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 Fairfield to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $234,900 median home), income ($98,857 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Lafayette, LA are about 1,793 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.