Gulfport-Biloxi receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Lafayette
Gulfport-Biloxi
Opportunity
54 · Bottom 47%
vs58 · Top 44%
Growth
65 · Top 27%
vs76 · Top 10%
Climate
81 · Top 4%
vs78 · Top 7%
Physical resilience
24 · Bottom 12%
vs25 · Bottom 14%
Housing affordability
91 · Bottom 41%
vs90 · Bottom 36%
Access
95 · Top 15%
vs85 · Top 33%
Economic stability
40 · Bottom 34%
vs43 · Bottom 39%
Measured values
| Metric | Lafayette | Gulfport-Biloxi | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 413,428 | 421,201 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $60,892 | $62,418 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $35,892 | $34,345 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 146/sq mi | 190/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $214,400 | $205,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $977 | $1,097 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.2% | 68.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 0.4% | -0.9% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.6% | 26.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 18.4% | 15.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,987 | 3,323 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 4.8 | 7.9 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -5.9% | 6.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 43°F | 42°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 59.7" | 62.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 15 mi | 28 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.0 min | 27.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.3 | 39.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Lafayette
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, inland flooding.
Gulfport-Biloxi
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, coastal flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Lafayette
64
Your Score
61
Area Score
Gulfport-Biloxi
65
Your Score
63
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Lafayette, LA Metro Area · Gulfport-Biloxi, MS Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology