Elkhart, IN vs Lafayette, IN

Elkhart is moderately more affordable than Lafayette, with a 5.1% lower cost of living index. Elkhart scores 73 compared to 76 for Lafayette, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Lafayette can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Elkhart is $981/month compared to $1,039/month in Lafayette — a 6% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Elkhart is more affordable at $126,900 median vs $157,600.

Median household income in Elkhart is $47,885 compared to $52,946 in Lafayette (-9.6%). While Lafayette is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Elkhart spend roughly 24.6% of their income on rent, more than the 23.5% in Lafayette.