Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 12 of 23 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Raleigh
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $112k less ($234,900 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $349/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,371)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Raleigh
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 52°F
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $19,781/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 4.5%)
Raleigh, NC
Pros
54% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $19,781 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$112k less
$234,900 vs $347,000
Raleigh
Median Income
$19,781
$78,631 vs $58,850/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
54% lower
488.8 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Raleigh
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.0 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 49.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 12 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 11 and Raleigh wins 12. 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $347,000 median home), income ($58,850 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Raleigh, NC are about 866 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.