Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Lafayette leads 13 of 23 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4
Median Household Income
$63,056 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
106,440
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
Rent averages $91/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,113)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Tyler
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
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.3%)
Median income trails Tyler by $4,206/yr
Tyler, TX
Pros
63% less violent crime than Lafayette
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.3%)
Homes cost $30k less ($205,200 vs $234,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Households earn $4,206 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Lafayette
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 92.4 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Median Income
$4,206
$63,056 vs $58,850/yr
Tyler
Violent Crime
63% lower
391.2 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Tyler
Median Home Value
$30k less
$205,200 vs $234,900
Tyler
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 92.4 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,113 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $63,056 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 20.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 103⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (97) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 57.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 47.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 16.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 13 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 13 and Tyler 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $205,200 median home), income ($58,850 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Tyler, TX are about 242 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.