Ithaca, NY vs Lafayette, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Lafayette
62.7
#1832 nationally
Lafayette leads in median household income ($219,250 vs $45,468). Ithaca leads in walk score (72 vs 26). Lafayette leads in crime level (2.2 vs 5.4).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Ithaca, NY | Lafayette, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 32,724 | 25,048 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $0 | $1,941,109 |
| Median Household Income | $45,468 | $219,250 |
| Average Commute | 18.4 min | 29.7 min |
| Walk Score | 72 | 26 |
| Crime Level | 5.4 | 2.2 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 117 | 280 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+50.6 | D+38.0 |
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Score
Ithaca, NY
Small New York city with local appeal
Population
32,724
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
72
Median Income
$45,468
Northeast
View Ithaca, NY →
D-
62.7 Score
Lafayette, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$1,941,109
Population
25,048
Crime
Low
Walk Score
26
Pacific
View Lafayette, CA →