Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
North Las Vegas, NV
🏆 Lafayette leads 13 of 22 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
North Las Vegas
Nevada
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,774 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
102⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
264,022 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $105k less ($234,900 vs $340,200)
Rent averages $457/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,479)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
15% cheaper overall cost of living than North Las Vegas
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails North Las Vegas by $12,924/yr
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
North Las Vegas, NV
Pros
64% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $12,924 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $340,200
Higher rents — median is $1,479/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Lafayette
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 6.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 101.9 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$105k less
$234,900 vs $340,200
Lafayette
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.4% unemployment
North Las Vegas
Median Income
$12,924
$71,774 vs $58,850/yr
North Las Vegas
Violent Crime
64% lower
388.9 vs 1066.1 per 100k
North Las Vegas
Summer Heat
14.7°F warmer
July avg high 105.7°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | North Las Vegas, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 101.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $340,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,479⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $71,774 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 99 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 93 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 17.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 81.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Clark County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 60.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 105.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 4.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 264,022 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 61.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 26.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs North Las Vegas's 101.9 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 13 of 22 categories. Lafayette wins 13 and North Las Vegas 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 North Las Vegas or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $340,200 median home), income ($58,850 vs $71,774), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and North Las Vegas, NV are about 1,393 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.