Is Lafayette, LA or Metairie, LA cheaper to buy in?

Lafayette, LA is cheaper. The median home price in Lafayette, LA is approximately $200,000 and in Metairie, LA it is approximately $286,000 — a difference of $86,000.

Is Lafayette, LA or Metairie, LA more walkable?

Lafayette, LA is more walkable. Lafayette, LA has a Walk Score of 15/100 and Metairie, LA has a Walk Score of N/A/100.

Which has better schools, Lafayette, LA or Metairie, LA?

Lafayette, LA has higher-rated schools. Lafayette, LA has a school rating of 7/10 and Metairie, LA has a rating of 6.9/10.

Let the numbers do the talking.

Lafayette, LA vs Metairie, LA

Lafayette, LA vs Metairie, LA: What the data shows

Lafayette, LA is in Lafayette, LA while Metairie, LA is in Metairie, LA — both in the same state. On home prices, Lafayette, LA is the more affordable option at $200,000 median — $86,000 less than Metairie, LA's $286,000. WYLT rates Lafayette, LA as “Think twice” — a neighborhood that warrants careful research before committing — and Metairie, LA as “Think twice” — a neighborhood that warrants careful research before committing.

Both neighborhoods have similar safety profiles. Lafayette, LA has Moderate violent crime and Moderate property crime. Metairie, LA has Moderate violent crime and Moderate property crime. On environmental risk, Lafayette, LA has Low flood risk and Metairie, LA has High flood risk.

Lafayette, LA is the more walkable neighborhood. Lafayette, LA scores 15/100 (car-dependent) versus Metairie, LA's N/A/100. For families weighing school quality, Lafayette, LA has the higher school rating — Lafayette, LA rates 7/10 and Metairie, LA rates 6.9/10.

Category	Lafayette, LA	Metairie, LA
Housing
Verdict	Think twice	Think twice
Median Price	$200K ✓ Lower price	$286K
Median Rent	$700 ✓ Lower rent	$1K
Median Income	$50K	$69K ✓ Higher income
Price Volatility	Moderate	Moderate
Getting Around
Walk Score	15/100 ✓ More walkable	Car-dependent
Transit Score	3/100 ✓ Better transit	Minimal transit
Bike Score	2/100 ✓ More bikeable	N/A
Commute	60 min	20 min ✓ Shorter commute
Safety & Environment
Safety Grade	D+	D+
Violent Crime	Moderate	Moderate
Property Crime	Moderate	Moderate
Flood Risk	Low ✓ Lower risk	High
Air Quality	Moderate	Moderate
Community
Schools	7/10 ✓ Better schools	6.9/10
Best for	Families with school-aged childrenBudget‑conscious buyersCommuters who drive	Families needing strong public schoolsRenters seeking affordable optionsCommuters to downtown New Orleans

Bottom line

Both neighborhoods have distinct trade-offs — review the data above to find your best fit.