Central vs Lafayette
Central, Louisiana versus Lafayette, Louisiana: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Lafayette edges out Central on overall objective livability (47 vs 42 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Central | Lafayette |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $83k | $59k |
| Cost of Living | $49k | $44k |
| Home Value | $266k | $235k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.66% | 0.58% |
| Income Tax | 4.30% | 4.30% |
| Sales Tax | 9.56% | 9.56% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.56% | 9.76% |
| Unemployment | 2.2% | 6.1% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 52°F | 53°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 83°F | 83°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 66.0 in | 64.7 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sunny Days | 254 days | 261 days |
| Summer Humidity | 72°F | 74°F |
| Comfortable Days | 106 days | 119 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 92.8 | 85.0 |
| Air Quality | 49 AQI | 46 AQI |
| School Quality | 62.5 | 44.4 |
| Violent Crime | 1927/100k | 1082/100k |
| Property Crime | 4353/100k | 4388/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 29,518 | 121,706 |
| Median Age | 38.8 | 36.9 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.29 | 0.54 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 0.96 |
| Political Leaning | D+13 | R+29 |
| White (%) | 83.0% | 59.5% |
| Black (%) | 8.4% | 29.1% |
| Hispanic (%) | 2.6% | 5.2% |
| Asian (%) | 1.0% | 2.4% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.0% | 3.9% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 31 min | 20 min |
| Walkability | 5.5/20 | 10.1/20 |
| Airport Distance | 61 mi | 108 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 93.0% | 89.9% |
| Amenities Nearby | 9.82 | 16.84 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Central or Lafayette more affordable?
- Lafayette has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Central's $49k and Lafayette's $44k. Median rent is $1k in Central versus $1k in Lafayette.
- Is Central or Lafayette safer?
- Lafayette has the lower violent crime rate. Central reports 1927/100k and Lafayette reports 1082/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Central or Lafayette?
- The median home value is $266k in Central and $235k in Lafayette, so homes are more affordable in Lafayette.