Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Macon-Bibb County, GA
🏆 Lafayette leads 14 of 22 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,706
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
29% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Households earn $9,953 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Macon-Bibb County
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
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $80k less ($155,200 vs $234,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lafayette by $9,953/yr
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 90.0 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Income
$9,953
$58,850 vs $48,897/yr
Lafayette
Violent Crime
29% lower
1066.1 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Lafayette
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.5% unemployment
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$80k less
$155,200 vs $234,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Macon-Bibb County, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 90.0 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 | $155,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 | $967 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 ✓ Higher | $48,897 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High ✓ Safer | 309⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High ✓ Safer | 394⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 181⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 25.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 86.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Bibb County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 59.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 51.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 156,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 52.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Macon-Bibb County's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 14 of 22 categories. Lafayette wins 14 and Macon-Bibb County 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 Macon-Bibb County or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $155,200 median home), income ($58,850 vs $48,897), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Macon-Bibb County, GA are about 523 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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