Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
New Orleans, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 16 of 23 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,706
New Orleans
Louisiana
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1
Median Household Income
$51,116
Violent Crime Index
380⚠ High
Population
380,408 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
26% less violent crime than New Orleans
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (6.1%)
Homes cost $47k less ($234,900 vs $281,500)
Households earn $7,734 more per year on average
Rent averages $140/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,162)
Commutes run 3 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 Orleans, LA
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1444.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lafayette by $7,734/yr
Property crime (4640.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 91.1 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Income
$7,734
$58,850 vs $51,116/yr
Lafayette
Violent Crime
26% lower
1066.1 vs 1444.1 per 100k
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$47k less
$234,900 vs $281,500
Lafayette
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | New Orleans, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 91.1 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $281,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,162 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 ✓ Higher | $51,116 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 11.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High ✓ Safer | 316⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High ✓ Safer | 380⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer | 221⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 40.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 88.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Einstein Charter Middle Sch at Sarah Towles Reed |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 61.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 60.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 380,408 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 37.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 49.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs New Orleans's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 16 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 16 and New Orleans 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 New Orleans or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $281,500 median home), income ($58,850 vs $51,116), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and New Orleans, LA are about 126 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.