Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Lafayette leads 15 of 22 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
109,543
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($234,900 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $746/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,768)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Maria
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Maria by $22,387/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 Maria, CA
Pros
38% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $22,387 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Lafayette
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$203k less
$234,900 vs $438,100
Lafayette
Summer Heat
17.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Income
$22,387
$81,237 vs $58,850/yr
Santa Maria
Violent Crime
38% lower
660.6 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 22.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 140⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 174⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F | 64.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 15 of 22 categories. Lafayette wins 15 and Santa Maria wins 7. 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 Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $438,100 median home), income ($58,850 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Santa Maria, CA are about 1,681 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.