Relocation profile · Federal data
Lafayette, LA
BEA RPP 87.2 ranks #37 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
- 87.2
- Cost index (US=100)
- $880
- 2BR rent / mo
- $57,165
- Median salary
- 47.6
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Lafayette ranks #250 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (47.6/100), with its strongest marks in housing and cost of living.
- #250
- of 387 US metros · Near median
- 4,597,740
- metro-area population
- 410
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,330
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: job market (9/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Lafayette ranks #250 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 87.2 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $880/mo, median salary $57,165; LiveAbility Score 47.6/100, strongest in housing and cost of living.
Signature: BEA RPP 87.2 ranks #37 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 87.2 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $880/mo.
LiveAbility 47.6/100 keeps Lafayette in the middle third (#250 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Lafayette area is 163,850.
Lafayette vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
48 Top 65% higher than 35% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Lafayette housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Lafayette MSA; housing RPP 58.8 (100 = national average); 2BR $880/mo.
Lafayette wages and employment
Lafayette posts 163,850 total employment with median salary $57,165 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $21,400 |
| Retail Salespersons | $28,600 |
| Registered Nurses | $81,960 |
| General and Operations Managers | $99,510 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $32,600 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Lafayette area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Lafayette area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Lafayette's composite Life Score is 66/100 (C+), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Lafayette ranks #250 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 47.6/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Lafayette - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Housing
Housing
99 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
91 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
49 /100
- Climate
Climate
48 /100
- Safety 27
Safety
27 /100
- Air quality 19
Air quality
19 /100
- Schools 10
Schools
10 /100
- Job market 9
Job market
9 /100
What this shows Lafayette's strongest dimensions are housing and cost of living; its weakest among scored dims is job market at 9/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Lafayette to
Metros near Lafayette on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Lafayette on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Lafayette cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Lafayette wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Lafayette?
Lafayette runs a $57,165 median salary at a 87.2 cost index, ranking #250 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Lafayette's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Lafayette head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Lafayette
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.