Lafayette LA vs St. George UT — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

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

Lafayette, LA

Louisiana · Population: 121,537

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

St. George, UT

Utah · Population: 99,184

  • Median HH Income$72,870
  • Median Home Price$456,900
  • Unemployment3.5%
  • Bachelor's+34.1%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Lafayette
121,537
Lafayette +
St. George
99,184
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Lafayette
N/A
St. George
N/A
Median Age
Lafayette
37.1
Lafayette +
St. George
37.9
Foreign Born
Lafayette
6.6%
St. George
7.4%
St. George +
White
Lafayette
59.1%
St. George
85.0%
St. George +
Black
Lafayette
28.6%
Lafayette +
St. George
0.6%
Asian
Lafayette
2.1%
Lafayette +
St. George
1.2%
Hispanic
Lafayette
7.6%
St. George
12.7%
St. George +
Spanish at Home
Lafayette
N/A
St. George
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Lafayette
$61,454
St. George
$72,870
St. George +
Per Capita Income
Lafayette
$39,861
Lafayette +
St. George
$36,254
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Lafayette
$55,297
St. George
$60,713
St. George +
Unemployment Rate
Lafayette
5.1%
St. George
3.5%
St. George +
Poverty Rate
Lafayette
19.1%
St. George
11.3%
St. George +
Bachelor's Degree+
Lafayette
40.6%
Lafayette +
St. George
34.1%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Lafayette
$225,222
Lafayette +
St. George
$456,900
Homeownership Rate
Lafayette
55.0%
St. George
68.2%
St. George +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lafayette
643
St. George
245
St. George +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Lafayette
2824
St. George
1931
St. George +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Lafayette
34.5%
St. George
32.9%
St. George +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Lafayette
14.0%
St. George
10.6%
St. George +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Lafayette
18.4%
St. George
16.0%
St. George +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Lafayette
8.3%
Lafayette +
St. George
10.9%
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Lafayette
17.8%
St. George
9.7%
St. George +
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Lafayette
16.1%
St. George
7.9%
St. George +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lafayette
67.6°F
St. George
63.9°F
St. George +
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Lafayette
61.0 in
St. George
8.8 in
St. George +

Air Quality

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

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Lafayette
21.5 min
St. George
17.9 min
St. George +

Which City is Right for You?

St. George leads in median household income at $72,870, while lafayette offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $225,222. On public safety, St. George is safer with a violent crime rate of 245 per 100,000 residents, compared to 643 in Lafayette. St. George has a lower unemployment rate at 3.5%, and St. George has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.0 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, St. George scores better with a lower obesity rate of 32.9%.

Compare More Cities

About Lafayette & St. George