© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Lafayette.
About
Life in Lafayette
If you're considering a move here, understand that Lafayette's identity is genuinely tied to Purdue University across the river—the university drives much of the economy and cultural life, so you'll feel that presence whether you work there or not. Housing is reasonably affordable with median home values around $172,800 and median rent around $1,079, which beats many Midwest cities of similar size. Winters here are real: January averages 17.7°F with occasional dips below minus 20, and you'll get moderate snow and rain year-round, peaking in July.
Lafayette at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.8%
Foreign-Born
10.9%
Broadband Internet
91.4%
of households
Population Growth
+0.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.9% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Lafayette: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lafayette, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (42.8%), and 8.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.4%
of residents
65 and Older
13.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
28.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
36.6%
of households
Married Couples
33.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.16
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for IN
Rent, home values, and income in Lafayette
In Lafayette, home values are 21% below the IN average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
50.0%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
93.4
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,117
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
46.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1971
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $264,702 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for IN
Unemployment in Lafayette
Unemployment in Lafayette is close to the IN average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Lafayette Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.4 min avg
How Lafayette residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lafayette, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 90% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 3 mi
Purdue University Airport (LAF)
Regional airport · few flights11k passengers boarded in 2025
- 58 mi
Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
Medium hub5.2M passengers boarded in 2025
- 120 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 20% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lafayette runs 20% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
395.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,667.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lafayette Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 10 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
81.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Tippecanoe County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Tippecanoe County, which includes Lafayette, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 10 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $101,000 |
| 2024 | 8 | Drought | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | $732,000 |
| 2022 | 6 | Winter Storm | $100,000 |
| 2021 | 5 | Heavy Snow | $117,500 |
| 2020 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $111,000 |
| 2019 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $233,300 |
| 2018 | 8 | Thunderstorm Wind | $39,150 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Tippecanoe County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Tippecanoe County, which includes Lafayette, is typically good — 244 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
244
per year
Moderate Days
103
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Tippecanoe County, county-wide
Climate83°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lafayette has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
61°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
37°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
41.7"
Annual Snowfall
20.5"
Hot Days/Year
20
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
116
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
126
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33°F | 18°F | 2.19" |
| Feb | 38°F | 21°F | 1.78" |
| Mar | 50°F | 30°F | 2.73" |
| Apr | 62°F | 40°F | 3.84" |
| May | 73°F | 51°F | 4.04" |
| Jun | 81°F | 60°F | 4.56" |
| Jul | 84°F | 63°F | 4.08" |
| Aug | 83°F | 62°F | 3.12" |
| Sep | 77°F | 54°F | 2.59" |
| Oct | 65°F | 43°F | 2.91" |
| Nov | 50°F | 33°F | 2.87" |
| Dec | 38°F | 24°F | 2.29" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 3.5/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lafayette
Lafayette has 3 hospitals, averaging 3.5 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
7.5%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.5 / 5
Indiana University Health Arnett Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Franciscan Health Lafayette
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Franciscan Health Lafayette · 1701 S Creasy Ln
- Hospital campus: Franciscan Health Lafayette Central · 1501 Hartford St, Lafayette
Sycamore Springs
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Wabash Valley Alliance, Inc. / River Bend Hospital
Psychiatric · 4.6 mi away · West Lafayette
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education14.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lafayette
Lafayette's student/teacher ratio is 14.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 27.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
15
within city limits
Private Schools
8
within city limits
College Degree Rate
27.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Lafayette (within 15 miles)
Public · 4-year · 44,503 students · in-state tuition $9,992 · 79% graduate · median earnings $80,082 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Indiana Dunes National Park, 87 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lafayette
Lafayette has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Indiana Dunes National Park (87 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Indiana Dunes National Park
National Park
87 mi awayPullman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
98 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lafayette
Tippecanoe County Public Library
627 South Street, Lafayette
Wea Prairie Branch
4200 S 18th Street, Lafayette
Cities Near Lafayette
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Lafayette?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Lafayette FAQ
Is Lafayette, Indiana affordable?⌄
Lafayette's median rent is $1,079/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $53,716/year. Median home value is $172,800.
Is Lafayette, Indiana safe?⌄
Lafayette's violent crime rate was 396 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1668 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lafayette, Indiana?⌄
Lafayette has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lafayette, Indiana?⌄
The cost of living in Lafayette is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,079/month and median household income is $53,716/year. The median home value is $172,800. About 50% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lafayette, Indiana?⌄
The average commute in Lafayette is 16 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from