Evansville vs Lafayette
Compare Evansville, IN and Lafayette, IN on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $908/mo in Evansville and $1,004/mo in Lafayette, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,070/mo and $1,069/mo. Across the four public-data screens Lafayette comes out ahead (248 vs 225 summed points), though Evansville still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 86°F and 86°F respectively. Long-term hazard exposure also separates them: Lafayette screens more resilient on the FEMA National Risk Index composite (67 vs 27/100, higher = lower expected annual loss per resident). If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Evansville; if walkable daily life matters more, Lafayette screens stronger on the walkability proxy (16 vs 14). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Lafayette leads 79 to 70 on the cost and climate screen.
Both cities are close on the work screen.
Lafayette leads 44 to 40 on the daily life screen.
Lafayette leads 47 to 38 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Evansville is roughly $56,667 in Lafayette using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Evansville | Lafayette | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $908/mo | $1,004/mo | Evansville |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,070/mo | $1,069/mo | Lafayette |
| Median home value | $174,000 | $184,000 | Evansville |
| State income tax | 3.0% | 3.0% | Tie |
| Average commute | 22.7 min | 21 min | Lafayette |
| Safety score | 55/100 | 55/100 | Tie |
| School score | 3/10 | 5/10 | Lafayette |
| Walkability estimate | 14/100 | 16/100 | Lafayette |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 158.0 | 175.5 | Lafayette |
| Mountain distance | 4 mi | 140 mi | Evansville |
| Coast distance | 501 mi | 527 mi | Evansville |
| Climate-risk composite (FEMA NRI) | 27/100 | 67/100 | Lafayette |
| Ice storm risk percentile (NRI) | 89th | 40th | Lafayette |
| Inland flooding risk percentile (NRI) | 75th | 32th | Lafayette |
| Earthquake risk percentile (NRI) | 87th | 56th | Lafayette |
What stands out
Evansville stronger signals
- Trail access within 44 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 0 miles
- Ski location within 71 miles
- Mountain access within 4 miles
Evansville tradeoffs
- Higher natural disaster risk
Lafayette stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 73 miles
- More affordable than many peer metros
- Shorter average commute
Lafayette tradeoffs
- No major generic tradeoffs identified
Common questions
Is Evansville cheaper than Lafayette?
On public benchmarks Evansville is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $908/mo in Evansville vs $1,004/mo in Lafayette; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,070/mo vs $1,069/mo; state income tax is 3.0% vs 3.0%.
Is Evansville or Lafayette safer?
Evansville screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 55/100 for Evansville and 55/100 for Lafayette (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Evansville or Lafayette?
School screens show 3/10 for Evansville vs 5/10 for Lafayette, alongside the safety scores above. It is a metro-level screen; verify specific school districts before weighting it heavily.
How different is the climate between Evansville and Lafayette?
Evansville: summer highs near 86°F, winter lows near 17°F, disaster-risk band 3/3. Lafayette: 86°F / 18°F, disaster-risk band 1/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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