Lafayette, LA vs New Orleans, LA
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
New Orleans, LA and Lafayette, LA spend within 9.8% of each other per resident — $32,984 versus $30,028 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
New Orleans, LA holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 52/100 (grade C) against 44/100 (grade D) for Lafayette, LA — a 8-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Lafayette, LA carries the lighter load at $1,334 per resident versus $2,288 for New Orleans, LA. Both cities pour the most per-resident dollars into the same function: fire protection leads in Lafayette, LA at $1,967 per resident and in New Orleans, LA at $1,044.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 10% of total revenue in Lafayette, LA and 18% in New Orleans, LA.
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
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| 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)
| 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 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.