Lafayette Parish did its first Quality of Life survey last year, and the results were released in December. Fortunately, its first results were much better than Escambia County’s first survey in 2008.
Both Escambia and Lafayette had the same percentage believe they were headed in the right direction in 2021.
| Direction | Escambia | Lafayette |
| Right Track | 52% | 52% |
| Wrong Track | 36% | 32% |
| Don’t Know | 12% | 16% |
In 2019, ChamberOfCommerce.org ranked the city of Lafayette the third best city in Louisiana for its quality of life, behind Mandeville and Covington.  Lafayette earned its spot near the top based on median earnings in the area, mortgage rates and housing costs, poverty levels and commute lengths, educational attainment and obesity rates.
According to the Census Bureau, Escambia County has about 80,000 more people than Lafayette Parish, but 1,600 fewer businesses.  The total payroll in 2019 in Lafayette was $6.47 million; Escambia $4.91 million.  Lafayette’s median household income  is $56,999; Escambia’s $50,915.
Lafayette has 8% more of its residents see its economic condition as positive than Escambia. Â Both communities have the same level concern about job security, though Lafayette had larger percentage very concerned. More people in Lafayette (38%) are uncertain about the economy in five years – almost the same percentage of those say ti will be better, while 52% in Escambia believe it will be the same.
| Economic Condition | Escambia | Lafayette |
| Good | 34% | 38% |
| Excellent | 2% | 6% |
| Subtotal | 36% | 44% |
| Fair | 45% | 42% |
| Poor | 17% | 12% |
| Subtotal | 62% | 54% |
| Don’t Know | 2% | 2% |
| Job Security Concerns | Escambia | Lafayette |
| Somewhat | 29% | 22% |
| Very Concerned | 20% | 28% |
| Subtotal | 49% | 50% |
| Not Too Concerned | 23% | 21% |
| Not At All | 24% | 26% |
| Subtotal | 46% | 47% |
| Not Sure | 5% | 2% |
| Economy in Five Years | Escambia | Lafayette |
| Better | 21% | 37% |
| Worse | 22% | 22% |
| Same | 52% | 33% |
| Don’t Know | 6% | 38% |
When it comes to overall quality of life, Lafayette had a larger percentage said it was excellent – 21% to 13%, while Escambia had a larger percentage say fair – 30%-24%. Both communties had the same percentage rate it good – 52%.
Lafayette residents were confident the overall quality of life would improve over the next five years. However, the largest percentage believes it will stay the same.
| Overall Quality of Life | Escambia | Lafayette |
| Good | 52% | 52% |
| Excellent | 13% | 21% |
| Subtotal | 65% | 73% |
| Fair | 30% | 24% |
| Poor | 3% | 3% |
| Subtotal | 35% | 27% |
| Quality over next 5 yrs | Escambia | Lafayette |
| Improve | 26% | 38% |
| Deteriorate | 13% | 13% |
| Stay Same | 57% | 44% |
| Don’t Know | 3% | 6% |