Residential comparison · 13 facts
Alexandria, LA vs Lafayette, LA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Alexandria needs about $87,500 in Lafayette to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Lafayette, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $82,500 in Alexandria.
A few differences
- Lafayette is higher on median household income ($61,915 vs $47,113).
- Alexandria is lower on cost of living index (78 vs 85).
- Alexandria is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($941/mo vs $1,097/mo).
Alexandria vs Lafayette · facet by facet
| Facet | Alexandria, LA | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $183,700 | $257,000 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $941/mo | $1,097/mo |
| Property tax rate | 0.55% | 0.55% |
| State & local income tax | 3.01% | 3.01% |
| Sales tax | 9.55% | 9.55% |
| Cost of living index | 78 | 85 |
| Groceries index | 97 | 97 |
| Utilities | $165/mo | $165/mo |
| Median household income | $47,113 | $61,915 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.2% |
| Crime index | 75/100 | 75/100 |
| School rating | 4.2/10 | 4.2/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 215 days | 215 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Alexandria, LA · Lafayette, LA
Questions & answers
- Is Alexandria cheaper than Lafayette?
- Alexandria has the lower day-to-day cost index (78 vs 85 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Lafayette equals $85,000 in Alexandria?
- A household earning $85,000 in Alexandria needs about $87,500 in Lafayette to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Lafayette lifestyle costs about $82,500 in Alexandria.