Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 10 of 19 categories
Germantown
Maryland
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Lafayette
Louisiana
10
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.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $50,418 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lafayette
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Rent averages $886/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,908)
Homes cost $159k less ($234,900 vs $393,700)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 39°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $50,418/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
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Income
$50,418
$109,268 vs $58,850/yr
Germantown
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Lafayette
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$159k less
$234,900 vs $393,700
Lafayette
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 84.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High | $234,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 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 | — | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 40.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 121,706 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 10 of 19 categories. Germantown wins 9 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 Germantown to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $234,900 median home), income ($109,268 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Lafayette, LA are about 1,041 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.