HEAD TO HEAD
Indianapolis vs Lafayette
Lafayette leads Indianapolis on 4 of 5 factors — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
Indianapolis, IN
wins 1 of 5 factors
Lafayette, IN
wins 4 of 5 factors
Match scores, side by side
| Factor | Indianapolis | Lafayette |
|---|---|---|
| Affordable to buy | 87 | 88 ◆ |
| Affordable to rent | 74 | 82 ◆ |
| Climate comfort | 51 | 98 ◆ |
| Plenty of sunshine | 43 | 61 ◆ |
| Big-city amenities | 92 ◆ | 50 |
By the numbers
| Figure | Indianapolis | Lafayette |
|---|---|---|
| Typical home value | $296K | $286K |
| Typical rent | $1,553/mo | $1,336/mo |
| Average temperature | 11°C | 20.4°C |
| Sunshine (solar) | 4 kWh/m²/day | 4.62 kWh/m²/day |
| Metro size rank | #34 | #208 |
Home & rent Zillow, May 2026 · climate & sunshine NASA POWER climatology. Scores are normalised 0–100 across all metros; higher is better. A research aid, not advice.