with $100k coming in, swapping out of Bridgeport

change
Lafayette, LA cityscape

from bridgeport

Lafayette

la · metro 414k

photo: Gage LaVergne / pexels

a dispatch from

lafayette

LA

30.22°N

92.02°W

Lafayette is the unofficial capital of Cajun country, with zydeco music spilling out of dance halls, crawfish boils that count as social events, and gumbo so dark and rich it should be served with a nap. Mardi Gras here is huge but more family-friendly than New Orleans. The food (boudin, etouffee, cracklins) is the main reason to be here. Friendly in a way that's hard to fake.

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,643

below Bridgeport's monthly cost

Move to Lafayette and the monthly math gets easier. Bridgeport's rent is the headline; Lafayette's is a footnote.
landable, recorded on the lafayette entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,332/mo

52% cheaper than Bridgeport(vs $2,767/mo)

02state income tax

3%

$208/mo less in state tax than Bridgeport

vs 5.5% in Bridgeport

03after rent

$6,751/mo

$1,643 more than Bridgeport

gross of federal tax. a comparison, not a paycheck.

04a house here

$200k

74% cheaper than Bridgeport

vs $768k in Bridgeport

05metro size

414k

vs 952k in Bridgeport

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

211

pleasant days a year, in lafayette.

Bridgeport barely cracks 172 pleasant ones.

A similar weekend lineup to Bridgeport.
on a typical month
·outdoorscore

43/100

33% lower than Bridgeport

vs 64/100 in Bridgeport

Closest outdoor draw: Chicot State Park District II, 42.7 mi.

·walk score®

85/100

8% lower than Bridgeport

vs 92/100 in Bridgeport

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

200% more than Bridgeport

vs 1 nonstops in Bridgeport

04 · see also

if lafayette appeals, also worth a look:

see also

fayetteville

better park access

turn the page

see also

augusta

better park access

turn the page

see also

baton rouge

better park access

turn the page

compare lafayette with:

FayettevilleAugustaBaton Rouge