Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Urban Honolulu, HI
🏆 Urban Honolulu leads 12 of 22 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Urban Honolulu
Hawaii
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,772 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
49 ✓ Safer
Population
348,547 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $571k less ($234,900 vs $805,500)
Rent averages $712/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,734)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Urban Honolulu
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Median income trails Urban Honolulu by $23,922/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
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.1%)
Urban Honolulu, HI
Pros
83% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $23,922 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (185.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 62°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $805,500
Higher rents — median is $1,734/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Lafayette
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 106.8 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$571k less
$234,900 vs $805,500
Lafayette
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 79.0°F
Urban Honolulu
Median Income
$23,922
$82,772 vs $58,850/yr
Urban Honolulu
Violent Crime
83% lower
185.2 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Urban Honolulu
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.1% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Urban Honolulu, HI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 106.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $805,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,734⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $82,772 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 22.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 7.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 49 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 90.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Hawaii Department of Education |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F | 76.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 79.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 31.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 348,547 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 42.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 48.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% | 21.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Urban Honolulu's 106.8 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Urban Honolulu leads 12 of 22 categories. Lafayette wins 10 and Urban Honolulu 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 Urban Honolulu or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $805,500 median home), income ($58,850 vs $82,772), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Urban Honolulu, HI are about 4,087 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.