Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
105,797
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Households earn $11,593 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.1%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 56°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Tuscaloosa
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
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
48% less violent crime than Lafayette
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Lafayette by $11,593/yr
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 6.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 90.0 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Income
$11,593
$58,850 vs $47,257/yr
Lafayette
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Violent Crime
48% lower
553.4 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 90.0 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 130⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 38.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 58.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 17.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Lafayette wins 11 and Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $228,300 median home), income ($58,850 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 337 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.