Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Metairie leads 14 of 21 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Metairie
Louisiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1
Median Household Income
$72,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,046 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $55k less ($234,900 vs $289,800)
Rent averages $98/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,120)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Metairie
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Metairie by $13,220/yr
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.3%)
Metairie, LA
Pros
63% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $13,220 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.3%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Lafayette
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 91.1 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$55k less
$234,900 vs $289,800
Metairie
Median Income
$13,220
$72,070 vs $58,850/yr
Metairie
Violent Crime
63% lower
390.1 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Metairie
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 91.1 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $289,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,120 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $72,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 21.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 103⚠ 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 (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 39.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 140,046 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 62.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Metairie leads 14 of 21 categories. Lafayette wins 7 and Metairie 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 Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $289,800 median home), income ($58,850 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Metairie, LA are about 112 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.