Laurel, MD vs West Lafayette, IN
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.
Laurel
66.4
#1547 nationally
West Lafayette
73.4
#747 nationally
West Lafayette leads in crime level (2.6 vs 10.8). Laurel leads in median household income ($92,035 vs $30,317). West Lafayette leads in average commute (15.3 min vs 33.5 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Laurel, MD | West Lafayette, IN |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 66.4 (#1547) | 73.4 (#747) |
| Population | 29,400 | 44,829 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $478,130 | $370,465 |
| Median Household Income | $92,035 | $30,317 |
| Average Commute | 33.5 min | 15.3 min |
| Walk Score | 53 | 51 |
| Crime Level | 10.8 | 2.6 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 103 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+13.9 | Even |
D
66.4 Score
Laurel, MD
Small Maryland city with local appeal
Median Home
$478,130
Population
29,400
Crime
Moderate-High
Walk Score
53
Northeast
View Laurel, MD →
C
73.4 Score
West Lafayette, IN
Small Indiana city with local appeal
Median Home
$370,465
Population
44,829
Crime
Low
Walk Score
51
Midwest
View West Lafayette, IN →
Try a different matchup
Swap Laurel for:
Swap West Lafayette for: