Lafayette, LA vs Melissa, TX
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.
Lafayette
73.6
#705 nationally
Melissa
74.8
#551 nationally
Melissa leads in crime level (1.0 vs 29.2). Melissa leads in median household income ($138,465 vs $58,850). Lafayette leads in average commute (20.4 min vs 32.6 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Melissa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 73.6 (#705) | 74.8 (#551) |
| Population | 121,467 | 23,571 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $227,080 | $430,394 |
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $138,465 |
| Average Commute | 20.4 min | 32.6 min |
| Walk Score | 42 | N/A |
| Crime Level | 29.2 | 1.0 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 99 | 125 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+31.4 | R+11.2 |
Data coverage note: Melissa is missing data for 1 metric that Lafayette has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
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 →
C
74.8 Score
Melissa, TX
Small Texas city with local appeal
Median Home
$430,394
Population
23,571
Crime
Very Low
Median Income
$138,465
Southwest
View Melissa, TX →