Residential comparison · 13 facts
Lafayette, LA vs Metairie, 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 Lafayette needs about $86,000 in Metairie to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Metairie, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $84,000 in Lafayette.
A few differences
- Metairie is higher on median household income ($73,042 vs $61,915).
- Lafayette is lower on cost of living index (85 vs 91).
- Lafayette is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,097/mo vs $1,241/mo).
Lafayette vs Metairie · facet by facet
| Facet | Lafayette, LA | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $257,000 | $327,500 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,097/mo | $1,241/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 | 85 | 91 |
| Groceries index | 97 | 97 |
| Utilities | $165/mo | $165/mo |
| Median household income | $61,915 | $73,042 |
| 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: Lafayette, LA · Metairie, LA
Questions & answers
- Is Lafayette cheaper than Metairie?
- Lafayette has the lower day-to-day cost index (85 vs 91 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Metairie equals $85,000 in Lafayette?
- A household earning $85,000 in Lafayette needs about $86,000 in Metairie to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Metairie lifestyle costs about $84,000 in Lafayette.