Irvine, CA vs Lafayette, LA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Irvine
67.2
#1452 nationally
Lafayette
73.6
#705 nationally
Irvine leads in median household income ($116,519 vs $58,850). Lafayette leads in cost of living index (99 vs 178). Lafayette leads in average commute (20.4 min vs 25.8 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Irvine, CA | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 67.2 (#1452) | 73.6 (#705) |
| Population | 307,670 | 121,467 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,517,431 | $227,080 |
| Median Household Income | $116,519 | $58,850 |
| Average Commute | 25.8 min | 20.4 min |
| Walk Score | 44 | 42 |
| Crime Level | Very Low | 29.2 |
| School Rating | 9.5 | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 178 | 99 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+2.6 | R+31.4 |
D+
67.2 Score
Irvine, CA
Master-planned perfection in Southern California
Median Home
$1,517,431
Population
307,670
Crime
Very Low
Schools
A+
Pacific
View Irvine, CA →
C
73.6 Score
Lafayette, LA
Mid-size Louisiana city with community character
Median Home
$227,080
Population
121,467
Crime
Very High
Walk Score
42
Southeast
View Lafayette, LA →
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