Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Jacksonville leads 12 of 22 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
Median Household Income
$64,138 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
950,203 ✓ 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.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
41% less violent crime than Lafayette
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.8%)
Households earn $5,288 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Lafayette
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Rent averages $259/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,281)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Jacksonville
Commutes run 4 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)
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.8%)
Median income trails Jacksonville by $5,288/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Median Income
$5,288
$64,138 vs $58,850/yr
Jacksonville
Violent Crime
41% lower
623.8 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Jacksonville
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
Lafayette
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 | $234,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 61.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 91.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 121,706 |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 12 of 22 categories. Jacksonville wins 12 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 Jacksonville to Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $234,900 median home), income ($64,138 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Lafayette, LA are about 618 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.