Crawfordsville, IN vs West Lafayette, IN

There is a significant gap in the cost of living between these two cities. Crawfordsville is 25.5% cheaper than West Lafayette. With a cost index of 69 vs 93, the difference would have a meaningful impact on a household's monthly budget. Someone relocating from Crawfordsville to West Lafayette should plan for substantially higher expenses across most categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Crawfordsville is $831/month compared to $1,152/month in West Lafayette — a 28% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Crawfordsville is more affordable at $134,100 median vs $318,100.

Median household income in Crawfordsville is $49,327 compared to $33,497 in West Lafayette (+47.3%). Crawfordsville offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Crawfordsville spend roughly 20.2% of their income on rent, less than the 41.3% in West Lafayette. The Crawfordsville ratio exceeds the commonly recommended 30% threshold, which can put pressure on household budgets.