Example household · Houston, TX · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

Lafayette skyline

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Houston vs Lafayette

Houston and Lafayette

Photo: Huw Williams ( Huwmanbeing ) / Wikimedia, Public domain

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

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So you know: homicide deaths in Lafayette are under the US rate in this release, 3.9 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Houston to Lafayette

In 2022-2023, 35 households filed a move from Houston to Lafayette (about 62 people, average adjusted gross income $38,371). 38 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,188 in Houston and $981 in Lafayette. Houston has no state tax on wages. Lafayette has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Lafayette is 82% of the national level for the same work, against 102% in Houston.

Lafayette averages 203 sunny days, with July highs around 83°F and January nights around 26°F. Houston is 204 sunny days, 94°F in July, 45°F in January. Commutes average 19 minutes in Lafayette and 29 in Houston.

These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 35 households moved Houston → Lafayette (about 62 people, average AGI $38,371). 38 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Houston and Lafayette changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 1,049 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$2,700–$5,100
Container or pod
$1,900–$3,600
Rent a truck
$1,050–$1,950

Movers in Lafayette and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Lafayette cheaper than Houston after tax and rent?

No. Lafayette leaves about $44 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,188 in Houston and $981 in Lafayette.

Does Lafayette have state income tax?

Lafayette is in Indiana, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 1.50%.

Did people actually move from Houston to Lafayette?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.