same $100k income, fresh start from Naples

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Lafayette, LA cityscape

from naples

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.

metro414k

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01 · the verdict

the verdict

$1,137

under Naples, every month

Lafayette runs on a fraction of Naples's budget. Same paycheck, real lifestyle upgrade.
landable, recorded on the lafayette entry

02 · the money

a quick ledger.

01rent

$1,332/mo

51% cheaper than Naples(vs $2,719/mo)

02state income tax

3%

$250/mo more in state tax than Naples

vs 0% in Naples

03after rent

$6,751/mo

$1,137 more than Naples

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

04a house here

$200k

71% cheaper than Naples

vs $679k in Naples

05metro size

414k

vs 404k in Naples

03 · the life

field notes, weather & such.

211

pleasant days a year, in lafayette.

Naples gets 261 pleasant days a year, so you'd be trading some sunshine.

·outdoorscore

43/100

26% lower than Naples

vs 58/100 in Naples

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

·walk score®

85/100

5% higher than Naples

vs 81/100 in Naples

Walk Score® methodology

·nonstops

3

91% fewer than Naples

vs 34 nonstops in Naples

04 · see also

in the same ballpark as lafayette:

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