Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Laredo 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
Laredo
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8
Median Household Income
$60,928 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 100°F
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
Laredo, TX
Pros
66% less violent crime than Lafayette
Homes cost $71k less ($164,400 vs $234,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 62°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 87.8 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Income
$2,078
$60,928 vs $58,850/yr
Laredo
Violent Crime
66% lower
365.8 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Laredo
Median Home Value
$71k less
$164,400 vs $234,900
Laredo
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 87.8 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $60,928 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 21.3 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 86 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 96 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 15.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 62.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Laredo leads 14 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 9 and Laredo 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 Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $164,400 median home), income ($58,850 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Laredo, TX are about 487 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.