Casper WY vs Lafayette LA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Casper, WY

Wyoming · Population: N/A

  • Median HH IncomeN/A
  • Median Home Price$308,116
  • UnemploymentN/A
  • Bachelor's+N/A

Lafayette, LA

Louisiana · Population: 121,537

  • Median HH Income$61,454
  • Median Home Price$225,222
  • Unemployment5.1%
  • Bachelor's+40.6%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Casper
N/A
Lafayette
121,537
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Casper
N/A
Lafayette
N/A
Median Age
Casper
N/A
Lafayette
37.1
Foreign Born
Casper
N/A
Lafayette
6.6%
White
Casper
N/A
Lafayette
59.1%
Black
Casper
N/A
Lafayette
28.6%
Asian
Casper
N/A
Lafayette
2.1%
Hispanic
Casper
N/A
Lafayette
7.6%
Spanish at Home
Casper
N/A
Lafayette
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Casper
N/A
Lafayette
$61,454
Per Capita Income
Casper
N/A
Lafayette
$39,861
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Casper
$77,800
Casper +
Lafayette
$55,297
Unemployment Rate
Casper
N/A
Lafayette
5.1%
Poverty Rate
Casper
N/A
Lafayette
19.1%
Bachelor's Degree+
Casper
N/A
Lafayette
40.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Casper
$308,116
Lafayette
$225,222
Lafayette +
Homeownership Rate
Casper
N/A
Lafayette
55.0%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Casper
222
Casper +
Lafayette
643
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Casper
1522
Casper +
Lafayette
2824

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Casper
36.6%
Lafayette
34.5%
Lafayette +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Casper
11.0%
Casper +
Lafayette
14.0%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Casper
16.9%
Casper +
Lafayette
18.4%
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Casper
11.8%
Lafayette
8.3%
Lafayette +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Casper
16.3%
Casper +
Lafayette
17.8%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Casper
15.2%
Casper +
Lafayette
16.1%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Casper
47.3°F
Casper +
Lafayette
67.6°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Casper
12.5 in
Casper +
Lafayette
61.0 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Casper
3.9 µg/m³
Casper +
Lafayette
8.9 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Casper
75.0%
Lafayette
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Casper
N/A
Lafayette
21.5 min

Which City is Right for You?

Lafayette offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $225,222. On public safety, Casper is safer with a violent crime rate of 222 per 100,000 residents, compared to 643 in Lafayette. Casper has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 3.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Lafayette scores better with a lower obesity rate of 34.5%.

Compare More Cities

About Casper & Lafayette