Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 16 of 23 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,057
Lafayette
Louisiana
16
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.
Hartford, CT
Pros
52% less violent crime than Lafayette
Homes cost $36k less ($198,900 vs $234,900)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Lafayette by $17,009/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 6.1%)
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Households earn $17,009 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 37°F
Rent averages $132/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,154)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Hartford
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
Hartford
Violent Crime
52% lower
515.8 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Hartford
Median Home Value
$36k less
$198,900 vs $234,900
Lafayette
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Income
$17,009
$58,850 vs $41,841/yr
Lafayette
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 10.6% unemployment
Lafayette
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 84.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $234,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $58,850 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 121,706 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 16 of 23 categories. Hartford wins 7 and Lafayette wins 16. 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 Hartford to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $234,900 median home), income ($41,841 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Lafayette, LA are about 1,339 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.