Jonesboro AR 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)

Jonesboro, AR

Arkansas · Population: N/A

Median HH IncomeN/A
Median Home Price$225,577
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

Jonesboro

N/A

Lafayette

121,537

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Jonesboro

N/A

Lafayette

N/A

Median Age

Jonesboro

N/A

Lafayette

37.1

Foreign Born

Jonesboro

N/A

Lafayette

6.6%

White

Jonesboro

N/A

Lafayette

59.1%

Black

Jonesboro

N/A

Lafayette

28.6%

Asian

Jonesboro

N/A

Lafayette

2.1%

Hispanic

Jonesboro

N/A

Lafayette

7.6%

Spanish at Home

Jonesboro

N/A

Lafayette

N/A

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Lafayette, LA	Better
Population	N/A	121,537	-
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	N/A	37.1	-
Foreign Born	N/A	6.6%	-
White	N/A	59.1%	-
Black	N/A	28.6%	-
Asian	N/A	2.1%	-
Hispanic	N/A	7.6%	-
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Lafayette

$61,454

Per Capita Income

Jonesboro

N/A

Lafayette

$39,861

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Jonesboro

$53,714

Lafayette

$55,297

Lafayette +

Unemployment Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Lafayette

5.1%

Poverty Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Lafayette

19.1%

Bachelor's Degree+

Jonesboro

N/A

Lafayette

40.6%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Lafayette, LA	Better
Median HH Income	N/A	$61,454	-
Per Capita Income	N/A	$39,861	-
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$53,714	$55,297	Lafayette +
Unemployment Rate	N/A	5.1%	-
Poverty Rate	N/A	19.1%	-
Bachelor's Degree+	N/A	40.6%	-

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Jonesboro

$225,577

Lafayette

$225,222

Lafayette +

Homeownership Rate

Jonesboro

N/A

Lafayette

55.0%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Lafayette, LA	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$225,577	$225,222	Lafayette +
Homeownership Rate	N/A	55.0%	-

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

660

Lafayette

643

Lafayette +

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

2507

Jonesboro +

Lafayette

2824

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Lafayette, LA	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	660	643	Lafayette +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	2507	2824	Jonesboro +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

39.2%

Lafayette

34.5%

Lafayette +

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.4%

Jonesboro +

Lafayette

14.0%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Jonesboro

20.5%

Lafayette

18.4%

Lafayette +

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

11.6%

Lafayette

8.3%

Lafayette +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.1%

Jonesboro +

Lafayette

17.8%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Jonesboro

15.7%

Jonesboro +

Lafayette

16.1%

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Lafayette, LA	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	39.2%	34.5%	Lafayette +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	11.4%	14.0%	Jonesboro +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	20.5%	18.4%	Lafayette +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	11.6%	8.3%	Lafayette +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	15.1%	17.8%	Jonesboro +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	15.7%	16.1%	Jonesboro +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

59.2°F

Jonesboro +

Lafayette

67.6°F

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Jonesboro

48.2 in

Jonesboro +

Lafayette

61.0 in

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Lafayette, LA	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	59.2°F	67.6°F	Jonesboro +
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	48.2 in	61.0 in	Jonesboro +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Jonesboro

9.5 µg/m³

Lafayette

8.9 µg/m³

Lafayette +

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Jonesboro

55.0%

Lafayette

75.0%

Lafayette +

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Lafayette, LA	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	9.5 µg/m³	8.9 µg/m³	Lafayette +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	55.0%	75.0%	Lafayette +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Jonesboro

N/A

Lafayette

21.5 min

Metric	Jonesboro, AR	Lafayette, LA	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	N/A	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, Lafayette is safer with a violent crime rate of 643 per 100,000 residents, compared to 660 in Jonesboro. Lafayette has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 8.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Lafayette scores better with a lower obesity rate of 34.5%.

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About Jonesboro & Lafayette

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