Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Roseville, CA
🏆 Roseville leads 15 of 22 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Roseville
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $362k less ($234,900 vs $596,700)
Rent averages $918/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,940)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Roseville
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 55°F
Cons
Median income trails Roseville by $53,415/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%)
Roseville, CA
Pros
Households earn $53,415 more per year on average
79% less violent crime than Lafayette
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $596,700
Higher rents — median is $1,940/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lafayette
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$362k less
$234,900 vs $596,700
Roseville
Median Income
$53,415
$112,265 vs $58,850/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
79% lower
219.2 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Roseville
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Roseville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $596,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,940⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $112,265 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 19.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 68 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 44.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 95.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Roseville City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 55.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 20.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 148,879 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 68.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Roseville's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Roseville leads 15 of 22 categories. Lafayette wins 7 and Roseville wins 15. 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 Roseville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $596,700 median home), income ($58,850 vs $112,265), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Roseville, CA are about 1,761 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.