Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Lafayette leads 13 of 22 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Santa Ana
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $389k less ($234,900 vs $624,000)
Rent averages $863/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,885)
29% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Ana
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Median income trails Santa Ana by $25,360/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
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
54% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $25,360 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 62°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
Cost of living runs 29% higher than Lafayette
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
29% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$389k less
$234,900 vs $624,000
Lafayette
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Median Income
$25,360
$84,210 vs $58,850/yr
Santa Ana
Violent Crime
54% lower
493.1 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Santa Ana
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 25.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 81 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 13 of 22 categories. Lafayette wins 13 and Santa Ana wins 9. 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 Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $624,000 median home), income ($58,850 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Santa Ana, CA are about 1,531 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.