Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 San Jose leads 11 of 21 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
San Jose
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $915k less ($234,900 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1504/mo less ($1,022 vs $2,526)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $77,160/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 4.7%)
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $77,160 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Lafayette
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Lafayette
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$915k less
$234,900 vs $1,149,600
Lafayette
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Median Income
$77,160
$136,010 vs $58,850/yr
San Jose
Violent Crime
43% lower
606.8 vs 1066.1 per 100k
San Jose
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 145⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 160⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 37.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, San Jose leads 11 of 21 categories. Lafayette wins 10 and San Jose 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 San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($58,850 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and San Jose, CA are about 1,772 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.