Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Riverview, FL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Lafayette
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706 ✓ Larger
Riverview
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,383 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
102,467
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Rent averages $735/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,757)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Homes cost $58k less ($234,900 vs $292,700)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverview
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Median income trails Riverview by $28,533/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
Riverview, FL
Pros
88% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $28,533 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 62°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,757/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Lafayette
Longer commutes — 34.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$58k less
$234,900 vs $292,700
Riverview
Median Income
$28,533
$87,383 vs $58,850/yr
Riverview
Violent Crime
88% lower
131.1 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Riverview
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Riverview, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $292,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,757⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $87,383 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 34.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 32.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 91.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F | 71.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 54.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 ✓ Larger | 102,467 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 72.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 25.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Riverview's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Lafayette wins 11 and Riverview wins 11. 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 Riverview or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $292,700 median home), income ($58,850 vs $87,383), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Riverview, FL are about 610 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.