Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Lafayette leads 14 of 23 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
New Haven
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,736 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Rent averages $380/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,402)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 38°F
12% cheaper overall cost of living than New Haven
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Households earn $4,545 more per year on average
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 Haven, CT
Pros
50% less violent crime than Lafayette
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Lafayette
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 98.6 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Income
$4,545
$58,850 vs $54,305/yr
Lafayette
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.8% unemployment
Lafayette
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 82.1°F
New Haven
Violent Crime
50% lower
534.8 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.6 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $236,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 ✓ Higher | $54,305 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 21.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 141⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 38.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 85.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 41.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 135,736 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 14 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 14 and New Haven wins 9. 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 Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $236,500 median home), income ($58,850 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and New Haven, CT are about 1,313 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.