Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Vancouver leads 12 of 23 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Vancouver
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $169k less ($234,900 vs $403,400)
Rent averages $503/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,525)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 47°F
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Vancouver by $14,776/yr
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Vancouver, WA
Pros
45% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $14,776 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Lafayette
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$169k less
$234,900 vs $403,400
Lafayette
Summer Heat
10.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Median Income
$14,776
$73,626 vs $58,850/yr
Vancouver
Violent Crime
45% lower
582.3 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Vancouver
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $73,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 23.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 162⚠ High ✓ 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 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 44.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 190,700 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Vancouver leads 12 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 11 and Vancouver 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $403,400 median home), income ($58,850 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Vancouver, WA are about 1,960 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.