Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Lafayette leads 12 of 22 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Santa Rosa
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90 ✓ Safer
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $427k less ($234,900 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $1002/mo less ($1,022 vs $2,024)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $33,754/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 Rosa, CA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $33,754 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Lafayette
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$427k less
$234,900 vs $661,700
Lafayette
Summer Heat
9.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 81.6°F
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$33,754
$92,604 vs $58,850/yr
Santa Rosa
Violent Crime
68% lower
342.6 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 22.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 59.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 12 of 22 categories. Lafayette wins 12 and Santa Rosa wins 10. 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 Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $661,700 median home), income ($58,850 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Santa Rosa, CA are about 1,831 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.