Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Philadelphia, PA
🏆 Lafayette leads 15 of 23 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$57,537
Violent Crime Index
239⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,593,208 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Rent averages $228/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,250)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Philadelphia
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 42°F
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Philadelphia, PA
Pros
15% less violent crime than Lafayette
Homes cost $19k less ($215,500 vs $234,900)
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (908.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Lafayette
Property crime (4548.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 103.5 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Income
$1,313
$58,850 vs $57,537/yr
Lafayette
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.6% unemployment
Philadelphia
Violent Crime
15% lower
908.7 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Philadelphia
Median Home Value
$19k less
$215,500 vs $234,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Philadelphia, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 | $215,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,250 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 ✓ Higher | $57,537 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 230⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 239⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 33.6% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 86.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Philadelphia City SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 41.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 89.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 50.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 16.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 1,593,208 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 52.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 14.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Philadelphia's 103.5 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 15 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 15 and Philadelphia wins 8. 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 Philadelphia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $215,500 median home), income ($58,850 vs $57,537), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Philadelphia, PA are about 1,168 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.