Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
San Angelo, TX
🏆 San Angelo 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 ✓ Larger
San Angelo
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9
Median Household Income
$65,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
57 ✓ Safer
Population
99,422
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 97°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than San Angelo
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
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.2%)
Median income trails San Angelo by $6,190/yr
San Angelo, TX
Pros
80% less violent crime than Lafayette
Homes cost $63k less ($171,700 vs $234,900)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (218.2 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $6,190 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Property crime (2486.0/100k) 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)
San Angelo
Median Income
$6,190
$65,040 vs $58,850/yr
San Angelo
Violent Crime
80% lower
218.2 vs 1066.1 per 100k
San Angelo
Median Home Value
$63k less
$171,700 vs $234,900
San Angelo
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
San Angelo
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 97.4°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | San Angelo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 90.9 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 | $171,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,037 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $65,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 17.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 7.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 86.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | SAN ANGELO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 61.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 97.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 22.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 ✓ Larger | 99,422 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs San Angelo's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Angelo leads 12 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 11 and San Angelo 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 San Angelo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $171,700 median home), income ($58,850 vs $65,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and San Angelo, TX are about 507 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.