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Data from U.S. Census Bureau · 2026 · Methodology
CitySpend

Lafayette, LA vs Baton Rouge, LA

Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)

Summary

Baton Rouge spends 31.6% more per capita than Lafayette ($13,858/person difference). Baton Rouge, LA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 75/100).

Fiscal Health Score

City A
Lafayette, LA
Pop. 121,706
D
44/100
Budget Balance54
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency2
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50
City B
Baton Rouge, LA
Pop. 225,500
B
75/100
Budget Balance100
Debt Burden100
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency0
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Lafayette
Baton Rouge
Total Spending
$3.7B
$9.9B
Spending / Capita
$30,028
$43,886
Total Revenue
$4.6B
$19.3B
Revenue / Capita
$37,974
$85,687
Total Debt
$162.4M
$0
Debt / Capita
$1,334
$0
Population
121,706
225,500
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Lafayette$615
Baton Rouge$1,820
Fire Protection
Lafayette$1,967
Baton Rouge$1,140
Highways & Roads
Lafayette$355
Baton Rouge$589
Parks & Recreation
Lafayette$1,923
Baton Rouge$758
Education
Lafayette$1,758
Baton Rouge$0
Health
Lafayette$851
Baton Rouge$2,058

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

LafayetteBaton Rouge
Sales Tax
$1,778
$488
Income Tax
$1,580
$2,296
Intergovernmental
$956
$949
Charges & Fees
$2,527
$0
Other
$3,792
$7,610

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

LafayetteBaton Rouge
Police
$615
$1,820
Fire Protection
$1,967
$1,140
Highways & Roads
$355
$589
Education
$1,758
$0
Public Welfare
$1,573
$2,691
Health
$851
$2,058
Hospitals
$1,440
$4,729
Parks & Recreation
$1,923
$758
Housing
$8,621
$7,045
Sewerage
$0
$236
Utilities
$3,202
$2,413
Interest on Debt
$1,013
$1,735
General Admin
$0
$4,492
Other
$6,711
$14,181
D
Lafayette, LA
Fiscal Health Score: 44/100
Below average fiscal health
B
Baton Rouge, LA
Fiscal Health Score: 75/100
Good fiscal health

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