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Living in
Lafayette.
About
Life in Lafayette
If you're considering a move to Lafayette, understand upfront that you're moving to the economic engine of Acadiana—a region where oil and gas, tech companies like Amazon and CGI, healthcare systems, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette drive the job market and shape daily life. The city itself feels like a genuine place where people actually work and build lives, not a tourist backdrop: you'll find reasonable cost of living (median home value around $257,000, median rent under $1,100), low unemployment at 3.8%, and a median commute under 20 minutes, which matters when you're spending 40+ hours a week getting to work. The economy has diversified significantly since its agricultural roots, so job opportunities span healthcare, aerospace, banking, and tech alongside the traditional energy sector—Forbes ranked it one of the best places for business and careers, and it's the second best place to live in Louisiana by cost of living standards.
Lafayette at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
18.3%
Foreign-Born
7.0%
Broadband Internet
91.9%
of households
Population Growth
+1.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics7.0% foreign-born, most often from Honduras
Who lives in Lafayette: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Lafayette, the largest foreign-born group is from Honduras (24.2%), and 5.3% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.9%
of residents
65 and Older
17.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.5%
of households
Married Couples
38.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.25
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 LA
Rent, home values, and income in Lafayette
In Lafayette, home values are 19% above the LA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.6%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.7%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
87.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,482
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
53.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1981
median year built
Vacant Homes
10.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $224,537 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts below LA average
Unemployment in Lafayette
Unemployment in Lafayette is 0.5 percentage points lower than the LA 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
Commute20 min avg
How Lafayette residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Lafayette, most residents drive alone to work (80%), and 81% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 2 mi
Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT)
Regional airport · few flights294k passengers boarded in 2025
- 106 mi
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY)
Medium hub6.2M 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 243% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Lafayette runs 243% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,130.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,468.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Lafayette Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 13 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively High
95.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Lafayette County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Lafayette Parish, which includes Lafayette, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 13 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | Flash Flood | $530,000 |
| 2024 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $38,000 |
| 2023 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $8,000 |
| 2022 | 3 | Flash Flood | $1,000 |
| 2021 | 6 | Flash Flood | $802,000 |
| 2020 | 5 | Thunderstorm Wind | $380.5M |
| 2019 | 9 | Flash Flood | $457,000 |
| 2018 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | $760,000 |
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
Lafayette Parish, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Lafayette Parish, which includes Lafayette, is typically good — 238 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
238
per year
Moderate Days
124
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Lafayette Parish, county-wide
Climate91°F summers, 43°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Lafayette has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and mild winters (avg low 43°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
78°/58°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/73°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
80°/59°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
64°/43°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
64.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
81
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
18
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
111
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62°F | 41°F | 6.09" |
| Feb | 66°F | 45°F | 4.45" |
| Mar | 72°F | 51°F | 3.76" |
| Apr | 78°F | 57°F | 5.50" |
| May | 85°F | 65°F | 4.87" |
| Jun | 90°F | 72°F | 7.02" |
| Jul | 91°F | 73°F | 6.32" |
| Aug | 92°F | 73°F | 6.54" |
| Sep | 88°F | 69°F | 5.21" |
| Oct | 81°F | 59°F | 5.00" |
| Nov | 71°F | 49°F | 4.75" |
| Dec | 64°F | 43°F | 5.23" |
Healthcare7 hospitals, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Lafayette
Lafayette has 7 hospitals, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
7
within city limits
Uninsured
10.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center · 1214 Coolidge Avenue
- Hospital campus: Lafayette Behavioral Health Unit · 302 Dulles Dr, Lafayette
Ochsner University Hospital and Clinics
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Park Place Surgical Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Oceans Hospital of Broussard
Psychiatric · 5.7 mi away · Broussard
Genesis Behavioral Hospital
Psychiatric · 9.6 mi away · Breaux Bridge
Ochsner St Martin Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 9.9 mi away · Breaux Bridge
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.
Education16.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Lafayette
Lafayette's student/teacher ratio is 16.1:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 41.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
27
within city limits
Private Schools
12
within city limits
College Degree Rate
41.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Lafayette
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Public · 4-year · 12,428 students · in-state tuition $11,460 · 57% graduate · median earnings $52,638 (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: Natchez National Historical Park, 100 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Lafayette
Lafayette has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Natchez National Historical Park (100 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Natchez National Historical Park
National Historical Park
100 mi awayPublic Libraries in Lafayette
Lafayette Public Library
301 W Congress St, Lafayette
Butler Memorial Branch
M L King Center, 309 Cora Street, Lafayette
Chenier Center Branch
220 West Willow Street Suite B, Lafayette
East Regional Library
215 La Neuville Rd, Youngsville
South Regional Library
6101 Johnston 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, Louisiana affordable?⌄
Lafayette's median rent is $1,100/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $61,915/year. Median home value is $257,000.
Is Lafayette, Louisiana safe?⌄
Lafayette's violent crime rate was 1131 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3469 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Lafayette, Louisiana?⌄
Lafayette has an unemployment rate of 3.8%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Lafayette, Louisiana?⌄
The cost of living in Lafayette is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,100/month and median household income is $61,915/year. The median home value is $257,000. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Lafayette, Louisiana?⌄
The average commute in Lafayette is 20 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