City Comparison
Fishers vs Lafayette
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Fishers scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Fishers
Lafayette
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Lafayette is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
21% lower than in Fishers.
Housing costs are a major driver: Fishers's average rent is
43% higher than Lafayette's.
| Metric | Fishers | Lafayette | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,650 | $1,150 | +43% |
| Groceries | $420 | $380 | +11% |
| Utilities | $175 | $175 | 0% |
| Transport | $130 | $110 | +18% |
| Healthcare | $230 | $230 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $2,605 | $2,045 | +27% |
| Cost Index | 108 | 89 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Fishers offers 28% higher average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Fishers delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Fishers is estimated at
$62,000 vs $48,000 in Lafayette.
| Metric | Fishers | Lafayette |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $78,000 | $61,000 |
| Salary Needed | $62,000 | $48,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 72,222 idx | 68,539 idx |
| Household Income | $115,000 | $63,500 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0.2°F of each other.
For sunshine, Lafayette comes out ahead with 14 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Lafayette sees 2.8 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Fishers | Lafayette |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.60°F | 53.80°F |
| Summer High | 83.80°F | 84.10°F |
| Winter Low | 20.50°F | 20.00°F |
| Rainfall | 38.40 in | 29.40 in |
| Snowfall | 19.80 in | 22.60 in |
| Sunny Days | 237 | 251 |
| Humidity | 65.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Lafayette has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,000 minutes (67 hours) per year compared to Fishers.
Lafayette scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Lafayette leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Fishers | Lafayette |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 27 min | 19 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Walkability | 48.0/100 | 55.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 52.00 | 42.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Fishers is the larger city
— approximately 1.5x the population of Lafayette.
From a growth perspective, Fishers is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Fishers has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Fishers | Lafayette |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 104,909 | 72,323 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.50% | 1.10% |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 35.5 |
| Unemployment | 3.20% | 3.80% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Fishers
Advantages
Consistently ranked among the safest cities in Indiana with exceptionally low crime rates per FBI reporting.
Hamilton Southeastern Schools and other local districts are top-rated statewide for academic performance.
Thriving technology and entrepreneurial ecosystem supported by the Indiana IoT Lab and local business incubators.
Extensive parks and recreation infrastructure, including the Nickel Plate Trail and Geist Reservoir access.
Vibrant downtown Nickel Plate District featuring dining, shopping, and regular community events.
Drawbacks
Housing costs and overall cost of living sit noticeably above the Indiana state average.
High degree of car dependency for daily commuting and errands outside of the central district.
Increasing traffic congestion along major thoroughfares during peak morning and evening commute hours.
Property tax rates in Hamilton County reflect high local service funding but add to homeownership costs.
Limited traditional public mass transit options connecting directly to broader regional employment hubs.
Lafayette
Advantages
Median home prices and rental rates remain significantly below the national US average per Zillow and HUD data.
Robust local manufacturing and engineering job sectors anchored by Subaru of Indiana Automotive and Caterpillar.
Proximity to Purdue University brings cultural events, Big Ten athletics, and continuous economic innovation.
Manageable average commute times under 20 minutes compared to major metropolitan congestion.
Extensive parks and recreation network including Columbian Park and Wabash River trail systems.
Drawbacks
Car dependency is high, with limited rapid transit options outside of local bus routes.
Sub-freezing winter temperatures and seasonal snowfall require ongoing municipal snow removal management.
Wage growth has occasionally lagged behind sudden spikes in housing demand near the university border.
Local entertainment and dining options are more limited compared to nearby Indianapolis or Chicago.
Property tax rates in certain expanding school districts can offset some overall cost of living savings.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Fishers
#40Indiana, USA
71.1 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,650
Avg Salary
$78,000
Cost Index
108
Commute
27 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
237/yr
Avg Temp
53.60°F
Pop. Growth
1.50%
Unemployment
3.20%
Livability
88
Business
80
Lafayette
#156Indiana, USA
65.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,150
Avg Salary
$61,000
Cost Index
89
Commute
19 min
Transit Score
48.0/100
Walkability
55.0/100
Sunny Days
251/yr
Avg Temp
53.80°F
Pop. Growth
1.10%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
75
Business
70
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