Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Lafayette
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Households earn $7,327 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 47°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Roanoke
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
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $73k less ($162,000 vs $234,900)
42% less violent crime than Lafayette
Rent averages $105/mo less ($917 vs $1,022)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lafayette by $7,327/yr
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Lafayette
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 90.9 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Income
$7,327
$58,850 vs $51,523/yr
Lafayette
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Roanoke
Violent Crime
42% lower
620.4 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$73k less
$162,000 vs $234,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 90.9 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 20.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Lafayette wins 11 and Roanoke 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $162,000 median home), income ($58,850 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Roanoke, VA are about 847 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.