New Orleans, LA vs Lafayette, 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 New Orleans, LA at $1,044 per resident and in Lafayette, LA at $1,967.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on other revenue — 18% of total revenue in New Orleans, LA and 10% in Lafayette, LA.
Summary
New Orleans spends 9.8% 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 | $62 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $327 | $1,778 |
| Income Tax | $993 | $1,580 |
| Intergovernmental | $3,013 | $956 |
| Charges & Fees | $3,241 | $2,527 |
| Other | $5,501 | $3,792 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $615 |
| Fire Protection | $1,044 | $1,967 |
| Highways & Roads | $271 | $355 |
| Education | $951 | $1,758 |
| Public Welfare | $1,197 | $1,573 |
| Health | $507 | $851 |
| Hospitals | $5,002 | $1,440 |
| Parks & Recreation | $966 | $1,923 |
| Housing | $4,479 | $8,621 |
| Sewerage | $161 | $0 |
| Utilities | $4,300 | $3,202 |
| Interest on Debt | $0 | $1,013 |
| General Admin | $1,865 | $0 |
| Other | $12,243 | $6,711 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.