Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 12 of 22 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 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Rent averages $707/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,729)
Homes cost $69k less ($234,900 vs $304,000)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
13% cheaper overall cost of living than San Tan Valley
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 104°F
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $29,616/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%)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
78% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $29,616 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.5%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Lafayette
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$69k less
$234,900 vs $304,000
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$29,616
$88,466 vs $58,850/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
78% lower
235.7 vs 1066.1 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
13.2°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.0 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 12 of 22 categories. Lafayette wins 10 and San Tan Valley 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 Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $304,000 median home), income ($58,850 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 1,165 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.