Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 16 of 22 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Pearland
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Rent averages $600/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,622)
Homes cost $76k less ($234,900 vs $311,100)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Pearland
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $52,273/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
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.2%)
Pearland, TX
Pros
Households earn $52,273 more per year on average
91% less violent crime than Lafayette
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,622/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $311,100
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Lafayette
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$76k less
$234,900 vs $311,100
Pearland
Median Income
$52,273
$111,123 vs $58,850/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
91% lower
95.9 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Pearland
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $311,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,622⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 10.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 93.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 53.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 124,478 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 36.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 28.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pearland leads 16 of 22 categories. Lafayette wins 6 and Pearland wins 16. 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 Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $311,100 median home), income ($58,850 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Pearland, TX are about 202 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.