Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Stamford leads 12 of 23 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Stamford
Connecticut
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $350k less ($234,900 vs $584,700)
Rent averages $1107/mo less ($1,022 vs $2,129)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Stamford
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 38°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Median income trails Stamford by $41,868/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
Stamford, CT
Pros
Households earn $41,868 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Lafayette
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Lafayette
Longer commutes — 27.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$350k less
$234,900 vs $584,700
Lafayette
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 84.8°F
Stamford
Median Income
$41,868
$100,718 vs $58,850/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
85% lower
157.5 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Stamford
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 38.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 50.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 135,413 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Stamford leads 12 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 11 and Stamford 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $584,700 median home), income ($58,850 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Stamford, CT are about 1,277 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.