Arvada vs Lafayette: Cost of Living (2026)

A side-by-side comparison of Arvada, CO and Lafayette, LA, using US Census Bureau data.

MetricArvada, COLafayette, LA
Population123,066121,706
Median household income$106,014$58,850
Median home value$553,000$234,900
Median rent (/mo)$1,706$1,022

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Highlighted cell = more affordable / higher income.

Comparing Arvada, CO and Lafayette, LA comes down to what you value most. Lafayette has the lower median home value, and Lafayette has the lower median rent.

Arvada has the higher median household income, which affects how far a paycheck stretches against local housing costs. The table below breaks down the key numbers side by side, all sourced from the US Census Bureau.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to live in Arvada or Lafayette?
By median home value, Lafayette is the cheaper of the two ($234,900 vs $553,000). Rent and income differ too — see the full comparison above.
Which has higher salaries, Arvada or Lafayette?
Median household income is $106,014 in Arvada versus $58,850 in Lafayette, per the US Census Bureau.

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