Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Lafayette
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Tulsa
Oklahoma
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5
Median Household Income
$56,648
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
411,938 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 49°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Tulsa
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
Tulsa, OK
Pros
Homes cost $61k less ($174,200 vs $234,900)
12% less violent crime than Lafayette
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Violent crime (941.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3627.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Lafayette
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 89.5 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Income
$2,202
$58,850 vs $56,648/yr
Tulsa
Violent Crime
12% lower
941.9 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Tulsa
Median Home Value
$61k less
$174,200 vs $234,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 89.5 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 | $174,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 | $958 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 218⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 248⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 48.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 44.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 52.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Lafayette wins 11 and Tulsa 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 Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $174,200 median home), income ($58,850 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Tulsa, OK are about 466 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.