What it's like to live in Lafayette
Lafayette is a mid-size city in Louisiana with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Lafayette deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, air quality that falls short of national benchmarks, and a poverty rate above the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Air quality concerns
- High poverty rate
- Hot summers
- Very rainy — 65" of rain per year
How Lafayette compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Lafayette
Based on Lafayette's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,200
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $44,000 a year
- 47% of Lafayette renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$51,400
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $25,700
- Homes cost 4.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 22% below US
$1,100/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,100 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $257,000. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $257,000 · 47% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 12% below US
3.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.8%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 243% above US
1131 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 3469/100k · Lafayette Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 23% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 91°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 43°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
7 hospitals
There are 7 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 3.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 14% above US
41% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 41% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
27 public schools inside the boundary
There are 27 public schools inside the boundary and 12 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Natchez National Historical Park (100 miles away).
Bottom line
Lafayette's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,100/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, people who want short commutes, and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Lafayette
All Louisiana guides →Not sure Lafayette is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.