Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
New Braunfels, TX
🏆 New Braunfels leads 14 of 22 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706 ✓ Larger
New Braunfels
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.7
Median Household Income
$85,827 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
92,993
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Rent averages $404/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,426)
Homes cost $56k less ($234,900 vs $290,800)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than New Braunfels
Cons
Median income trails New Braunfels by $26,977/yr
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
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.8%)
New Braunfels, TX
Pros
85% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $26,977 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (156.4 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.7)
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,426/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Lafayette
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 93.7 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$56k less
$234,900 vs $290,800
New Braunfels
Median Income
$26,977
$85,827 vs $58,850/yr
New Braunfels
Violent Crime
85% lower
156.4 vs 1066.1 per 100k
New Braunfels
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | New Braunfels, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 93.7 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $290,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,426⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $85,827 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 26.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 61 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 38.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | COMAL ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F | 61.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 93.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 35.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 ✓ Larger | 92,993 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 63.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs New Braunfels's 93.7 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, New Braunfels leads 14 of 22 categories. Lafayette wins 8 and New Braunfels 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 New Braunfels or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $290,800 median home), income ($58,850 vs $85,827), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and New Braunfels, TX are about 366 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.