Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 13 of 23 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$60,187 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 37°F
Rent averages $131/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,153)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Pittsburgh
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
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
60% less violent crime than Lafayette
Homes cost $63k less ($171,800 vs $234,900)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Lafayette
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Median Income
$1,337
$60,187 vs $58,850/yr
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
60% lower
427.2 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Median Home Value
$63k less
$171,800 vs $234,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 94.4 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 | $171,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,153 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $60,187 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ 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 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 36.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 41.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 13 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 10 and Pittsburgh wins 13. 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 Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $171,800 median home), income ($58,850 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Pittsburgh, PA are about 979 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.