Is Lafayette or Morgan City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Morgan City is safer than Lafayette (Safety Score 14/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 3,383 per 100,000 versus 5,414 for Lafayette — 38% lower. Lafayette has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Morgan City has a 48% lower rate.
Note: Lafayette is 11.4x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Lafayette — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Morgan City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Lafayette, LA
Morgan City, LA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Lafayette | Morgan City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,413.6 | 3,382.9 | +2,030.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,066.1 | 551.4 | +514.8 |
| Murder Rate | 14.8 | 9.3 | +5.5 |
| Rape Rate | 33.8 | 65.4 | -31.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 69.2 | 37.4 | +31.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 948.4 | 439.2 | +509.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,347.5 | 2,831.5 | +1,516.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 661.1 | 467.3 | +193.8 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 3,227.9 | 2,158.7 | +1,069.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 458.6 | 205.6 | +253.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lafayette or Morgan City safer?
Morgan City is safer with a total crime rate of 3,383 per 100K vs 5,414 for Lafayette — a 38% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Lafayette has a violent crime rate of 1,066.1 per 100K while Morgan City has 551.4. Morgan City has lower violent crime.
About Lafayette, LA
Lafayette, at the heart of Acadiana, is a vibrant hub of Cajun and Creole culture, known for its lively music and food scene. Situated along the Vermilion River, it's the most populous city in the Lafayette metropolitan area. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 121,471, Lafayette has a total crime rate of 5,413.6 per 100,000 residents.
About Morgan City, LA
Nestled on the Atchafalaya River, Morgan City is a hub for the oil and seafood industries. This small Louisiana city, famous for being the first to drill for oil offshore, boasts a significant Cajun and Creole heritage. With a safety score of 14/100 and a population coverage of 10,701, Morgan City has a total crime rate of 3,382.9 per 100,000 residents.