Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Nashville-Davidson, TN
🏆 Lafayette leads 15 of 22 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,706
Nashville-Davidson
Tennessee
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$71,328 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
296⚠ High
Population
684,103 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $117k less ($234,900 vs $351,400)
Rent averages $370/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,392)
5% less violent crime than Nashville-Davidson
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Nashville-Davidson
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 48°F
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Nashville-Davidson by $12,478/yr
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.6%)
Nashville-Davidson, TN
Pros
Households earn $12,478 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 45.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $351,400
Higher rents — median is $1,392/mo
Violent crime (1124.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4509.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Violent Crime
5% lower
1066.1 vs 1124.1 per 100k
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$117k less
$234,900 vs $351,400
Nashville-Davidson
Median Income
$12,478
$71,328 vs $58,850/yr
Nashville-Davidson
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Nashville-Davidson, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $351,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,392⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $71,328 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 15.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High ✓ Safer | 296⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 45.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 90.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Davidson County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 54.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 684,103 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Nashville-Davidson's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 15 of 22 categories. Lafayette wins 15 and Nashville-Davidson wins 7. 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 Nashville-Davidson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $351,400 median home), income ($58,850 vs $71,328), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Nashville-Davidson, TN are about 512 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.