Fairlawn, OH vs West Lafayette, OH

The cost of living difference between Fairlawn, OH and West Lafayette, OH is dramatic. West Lafayette is 42.2% cheaper than Fairlawn, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Fairlawn has a cost index of 88 while West Lafayette sits at 62, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Fairlawn is $1,095/month compared to $723/month in West Lafayette — a 52% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: West Lafayette is more affordable at $92,300 median vs $267,000.

Median household income in Fairlawn is $93,154 compared to $45,364 in West Lafayette (+105.3%). While Fairlawn is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Fairlawn spend roughly 14.1% of their income on rent, less than the 19.1% in West Lafayette.