Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Lafayette leads 14 of 21 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Worcester
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($234,900 vs $305,600)
Rent averages $290/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,312)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
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
Median income trails Worcester by $4,161/yr
Worcester, MA
Pros
98% less violent crime than Lafayette
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 91°F
Households earn $4,161 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Lafayette
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$71k less
$234,900 vs $305,600
Lafayette
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Lafayette
Summer Heat
11.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$4,161
$63,011 vs $58,850/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
98% lower
16.5 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (106) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 48.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 14 of 21 categories. Lafayette wins 14 and Worcester wins 7. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $305,600 median home), income ($58,850 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Worcester, MA are about 1,396 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.