Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,737
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $128k less ($234,900 vs $362,800)
Rent averages $444/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,466)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 34°F
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lowell by $14,158/yr
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Lowell, MA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $14,158 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Higher rents — median is $1,466/mo
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Lafayette
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$128k less
$234,900 vs $362,800
Lafayette
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Income
$14,158
$73,008 vs $58,850/yr
Lowell
Violent Crime
50% lower
532.5 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,466⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 8.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 48.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 14 of 22 categories. Lafayette wins 14 and Lowell 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 Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $362,800 median home), income ($58,850 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Lowell, MA are about 1,430 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.