Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Lafayette leads 12 of 21 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $542k less ($234,900 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $955/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,977)
29% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Westminster by $21,421/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
Westminster, CA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $21,421 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 62°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Cost of living runs 29% higher than Lafayette
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
29% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$542k less
$234,900 vs $777,100
Lafayette
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.5% unemployment
Lafayette
Summer Heat
8.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$21,421
$80,271 vs $58,850/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
59% lower
436.2 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 28% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 12 of 21 categories. Lafayette wins 12 and Westminster wins 9. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $777,100 median home), income ($58,850 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Westminster, CA are about 1,537 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.