Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Long Beach, CA
🏆 Lafayette leads 14 of 22 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Long Beach
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,995 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
462,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $475k less ($234,900 vs $709,700)
Rent averages $676/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,698)
29% cheaper overall cost of living than Long Beach
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Long Beach by $20,145/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
Long Beach, CA
Pros
37% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $20,145 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 62°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $709,700
Higher rents — median is $1,698/mo
Cost of living runs 29% higher than Lafayette
Violent crime (676.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
29% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$475k less
$234,900 vs $709,700
Lafayette
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Lafayette
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 81.4°F
Long Beach
Median Income
$20,145
$78,995 vs $58,850/yr
Long Beach
Violent Crime
37% lower
676.4 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Long Beach, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $709,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,698⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $78,995 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 166⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 33.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F | 67.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 12.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 462,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 40.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Long Beach's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 14 of 22 categories. Lafayette wins 14 and Long Beach wins 8. 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 Long Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $709,700 median home), income ($58,850 vs $78,995), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Long Beach, CA are about 1,547 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.