What it's like to live in West Lafayette
West Lafayette is a small city in Indiana with rent below the national average, unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and commutes that run shorter than most cities. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. West Lafayette deals with household incomes below the national average, a poverty rate above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold winters.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low unemployment
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High poverty rate
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How West Lafayette compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to West Lafayette
Based on West Lafayette's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,450
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $49,000 a year
- 63% of West Lafayette renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$70,000
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $35,000
- Homes cost 10.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 13% below US
$1,225/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,225 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $350,000. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $350,000 · 63% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 28% below US
3.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.1%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 70% below US
98 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 986/100k · West Lafayette Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 38% below US
16 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 16.1 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 5 in 10 workers drive to work; 15% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 21°F and snow a regular occurrence.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 104% above US
73% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
3 public schools inside the boundary
There are 3 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Indiana Dunes National Park (83 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
West Lafayette's strongest points are rent below the national average and unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and a poverty rate above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,225/mo) equals 42% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, job seekers, and anyone prioritizing low crime.
Other places near West Lafayette
All Indiana guides →Moving to Lafayette →
5 mi away · pop. 71,159
Rent $1,079/mo · Income $53,716
Compare with West Lafayette →Moving to Frankfort →
23 mi away · pop. 15,917
Rent $898/mo · Income $57,412
Compare with West Lafayette →Moving to Crawfordsville →
28 mi away · pop. 16,491
Rent $857/mo · Income $55,033
Compare with West Lafayette →Moving to Logansport →
37 mi away · pop. 17,790
Rent $786/mo · Income $47,291
Compare with West Lafayette →Not sure West Lafayette is the one?
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