Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
New York, NY
🏆 Lafayette leads 12 of 23 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
New York
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $497k less ($234,900 vs $732,100)
Rent averages $692/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,714)
Commutes run 21 min shorter each way
26% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 40°F
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails New York by $17,757/yr
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
New York, NY
Pros
37% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $17,757 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Lafayette
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$497k less
$234,900 vs $732,100
Lafayette
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.6% unemployment
Lafayette
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 84.8°F
New York
Median Income
$17,757
$76,607 vs $58,850/yr
New York
Violent Crime
37% lower
671.0 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | New York, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $732,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,714⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $76,607 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 41.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 13.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 113⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 40.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 83.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 47.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 24.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs New York's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 12 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 12 and New York wins 11. 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 York or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $732,100 median home), income ($58,850 vs $76,607), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and New York, NY are about 1,245 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.