Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Oakland, CA
🏆 Lafayette leads 15 of 22 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,706
Oakland
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $649k less ($234,900 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $827/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,849)
31% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
45% less violent crime than Oakland
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $35,539/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
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $35,539 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 91°F
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Cost of living runs 31% higher than Lafayette
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
31% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Violent Crime
45% lower
1066.1 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$649k less
$234,900 vs $883,800
Lafayette
Summer Heat
19.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 71.6°F
Oakland
Median Income
$35,539
$94,389 vs $58,850/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Oakland, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $883,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,849⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $94,389 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 31.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High ✓ Safer | 400⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High ✓ Safer | 507⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer | 344⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (98) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 48.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 85.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Oakland Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 59.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 71.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 22.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 437,825 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 14.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Oakland's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 31% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 15 of 22 categories. Lafayette wins 15 and Oakland 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 Oakland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $883,800 median home), income ($58,850 vs $94,389), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Oakland, CA are about 1,798 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.