Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Lakewood, CO
🏆 Lakewood leads 14 of 23 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Lakewood
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
156,149 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $259k less ($234,900 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $643/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,665)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 45°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $23,936/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 4.4%)
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $23,936 more per year on average
26% less violent crime than Lafayette
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Lafayette
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$259k less
$234,900 vs $494,100
Lafayette
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 85.9°F
Lakewood
Median Income
$23,936
$82,786 vs $58,850/yr
Lakewood
Violent Crime
26% lower
787.2 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Lakewood
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Lakewood, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $494,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,665⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $82,786 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 16.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 221⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 16.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 44.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 17.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 58.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 156,149 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 58.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Lakewood's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 14 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 9 and Lakewood wins 14. 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 Lafayette to Lakewood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $494,100 median home), income ($58,850 vs $82,786), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Lakewood, CO are about 988 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.