Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Vacaville 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 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $326k less ($234,900 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $1119/mo less ($1,022 vs $2,141)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $47,914/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
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,914 more per year on average
72% less violent crime than Lafayette
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Lafayette
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$326k less
$234,900 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$47,914
$106,764 vs $58,850/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
72% lower
293.2 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Vacaville
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.1% unemployment
Vacaville
Summer Heat
4.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 91.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Vacaville leads 12 of 22 categories. Lafayette wins 10 and Vacaville 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $560,400 median home), income ($58,850 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Vacaville, CA are about 1,790 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.