Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Yonkers, NY
🏆 Lafayette leads 13 of 23 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Yonkers
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,208 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
209,780 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Homes cost $222k less ($234,900 vs $456,500)
Rent averages $637/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,659)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Yonkers
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 40°F
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Yonkers by $19,358/yr
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Yonkers, NY
Pros
71% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $19,358 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $456,500
Higher rents — median is $1,659/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Lafayette
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$222k less
$234,900 vs $456,500
Lafayette
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Lafayette
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 85.6°F
Yonkers
Median Income
$19,358
$78,208 vs $58,850/yr
Yonkers
Violent Crime
71% lower
311.8 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Yonkers, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $456,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,659⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $78,208 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 34.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 9.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | 69 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 35.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 83.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | YONKERS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 39.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 51.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 209,780 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 39.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 48.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Yonkers's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 13 of 23 categories. Lafayette wins 13 and Yonkers wins 10. 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 Yonkers or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $456,500 median home), income ($58,850 vs $78,208), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Yonkers, NY are about 1,258 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.