Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Lafayette leads 17 of 23 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93 ✓ Safer
Population
100,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $56k less ($234,900 vs $291,300)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.1%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than New Bedford
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
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
New Bedford, MA
Pros
67% less violent crime than Lafayette
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Lafayette
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.1%)
Median income trails Lafayette by $4,246/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Income
$4,246
$58,850 vs $54,604/yr
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$56k less
$234,900 vs $291,300
Lafayette
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.2% unemployment
Lafayette
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 82.5°F
New Bedford
Violent Crime
67% lower
353.2 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,026 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 65 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 45.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 36.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 17 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 17 and New Bedford wins 6. 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 New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $291,300 median home), income ($58,850 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and New Bedford, MA are about 1,415 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.