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

Lafayette, LA vs New Orleans, LA

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

Summary

New Orleans spends 9.0% more per capita than Lafayette ($2,956/person difference). New Orleans, LA has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (C, 52/100).

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
New Orleans, LA
Pop. 380,408
C
52/100
Budget Balance70
Debt Burden0
Pension Funding76
Spending Efficiency29
Revenue Diversity100
Trend Direction50

Key Metrics

Metric
Lafayette
New Orleans
Total Spending
$3.7B
$12.5B
Spending / Capita
$30,028
$32,984
Total Revenue
$4.6B
$12.0B
Revenue / Capita
$37,974
$31,427
Total Debt
$162.4M
$870.3M
Debt / Capita
$1,334
$2,288
Population
121,706
380,408
Gov Employees / 10K
0.0
0.0
Avg Gov Salary
$0
$0

Per Capita Spending by Department

Police
Lafayette$615
New Orleans$0
Fire Protection
Lafayette$1,967
New Orleans$1,044
Highways & Roads
Lafayette$355
New Orleans$271
Parks & Recreation
Lafayette$1,923
New Orleans$966
Education
Lafayette$1,758
New Orleans$951
Health
Lafayette$851
New Orleans$507

Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)

LafayetteNew Orleans
Property Tax
$0
$62
Sales Tax
$1,778
$327
Income Tax
$1,580
$993
Intergovernmental
$956
$3,013
Charges & Fees
$2,527
$3,241
Other
$3,792
$5,501

Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)

LafayetteNew Orleans
Police
$615
$0
Fire Protection
$1,967
$1,044
Highways & Roads
$355
$271
Education
$1,758
$951
Public Welfare
$1,573
$1,197
Health
$851
$507
Hospitals
$1,440
$5,002
Parks & Recreation
$1,923
$966
Housing
$8,621
$4,479
Sewerage
$0
$161
Utilities
$3,202
$4,300
Interest on Debt
$1,013
$0
General Admin
$0
$1,865
Other
$6,711
$12,243
D
Lafayette, LA
Fiscal Health Score: 44/100
Below average fiscal health
C
New Orleans, LA
Fiscal Health Score: 52/100
Average fiscal health

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