Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Yakima, WA
🏆 Lafayette leads 16 of 23 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706 ✓ Larger
Yakima
Washington
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$55,734
Violent Crime Index
143⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Yakima
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 40°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Households earn $3,116 more per year on average
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
Yakima, WA
Pros
49% less violent crime than Lafayette
Cons
Violent crime (544.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Lafayette
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 6.1%)
Median income trails Lafayette by $3,116/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 101.6 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Income
$3,116
$58,850 vs $55,734/yr
Lafayette
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.1% unemployment
Yakima
Violent Crime
49% lower
544.3 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Yakima, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 101.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $243,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 | $1,014 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 ✓ Higher | $55,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 17.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% ✓ Higher | 5.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 97 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 19.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Yakima School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 20.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 ✓ Larger | 96,764 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 53.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 15.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Yakima's 101.6 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 16 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 16 and Yakima 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 Yakima or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $243,300 median home), income ($58,850 vs $55,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Yakima, WA are about 1,898 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.