Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Irving leads 13 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962 ✓ 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.
Irving, TX
Pros
74% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $17,836 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.1%)
Smaller class sizes — 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Lafayette
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Rent averages $401/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,423)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Homes cost $25k less ($234,900 vs $259,500)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 57°F
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Irving by $17,836/yr
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Median Income
$17,836
$76,686 vs $58,850/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
74% lower
275.4 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Irving
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.1% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 91.0°F
Lafayette
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$25k less
$234,900 vs $259,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 | $234,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 40.0% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 121,706 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 13 of 23 categories. Irving 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 Irving to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $234,900 median home), income ($76,686 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Lafayette, LA are about 344 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.