Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Longmont, CO
🏆 Longmont 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 ✓ Larger
Longmont
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
98,282
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $253k less ($234,900 vs $488,100)
Rent averages $667/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,689)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Longmont
Commutes run 5 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 Longmont by $30,870/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 4.1%)
Longmont, CO
Pros
Households earn $30,870 more per year on average
56% less violent crime than Lafayette
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
Higher rents — median is $1,689/mo
Violent crime (469.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Lafayette
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$253k less
$234,900 vs $488,100
Longmont
Median Income
$30,870
$89,720 vs $58,850/yr
Longmont
Violent Crime
56% lower
469.3 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Longmont
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Longmont, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $488,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,689⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $89,720 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 17.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 44.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 47.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 ✓ Larger | 98,282 |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 20.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Longmont's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Longmont leads 14 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 9 and Longmont 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 Longmont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $488,100 median home), income ($58,850 vs $89,720), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Longmont, CO are about 1,007 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.