Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Shreveport, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 12 of 23 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,706
Shreveport
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
13% less violent crime than Shreveport
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (6.1%)
Households earn $12,883 more per year on average
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
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
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Homes cost $66k less ($168,900 vs $234,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Rent averages $77/mo less ($945 vs $1,022)
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lafayette by $12,883/yr
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Median Income
$12,883
$58,850 vs $45,967/yr
Lafayette
Violent Crime
13% lower
1066.1 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Lafayette
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 9.2% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 87.0 on the COL index
Shreveport
Median Home Value
$66k less
$168,900 vs $234,900
Shreveport
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Shreveport, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 87.1 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 | $168,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 | $945 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 ✓ Higher | $45,967 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High ✓ Safer | 270⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High ✓ Safer | 323⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 26.6% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 87.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Caddo Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 58.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 51.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 186,183 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 53.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Shreveport's 87.1 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 12 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 12 and Shreveport 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 Shreveport or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $168,900 median home), income ($58,850 vs $45,967), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Shreveport, LA are about 188 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.