What are the schools like in Lafayette, CA?

Lafayette is served primarily by Lafayette Elementary. The district operates 5 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 21.6:1.

What is the median household income in Lafayette?

The median household income in Lafayette, CA is $219,250 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.3%.

What is the weather like in Lafayette, CA?

Lafayette has an average high temperature of 58.4°F in January and 88.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 26.8 inches.

Lafayette, CA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Lafayette, CA affordable or expensive?

Lafayette's cost of living index is 118, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lafayette is 18% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $1,914,700 and the median rent is $2,856 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Lafayette, CA?

Lafayette has a violent crime rate of 80.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1267.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lafayette, CA a Good Place to Live?

Lafayette is a small city of 25,310 in California, with a median household income of $219,250 and a 6.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 118 (US average = 100), which is 18% above the national average.

Strengths: Lafayette stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lafayette is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Lafayette city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 118.2

Lafayette's overall cost of living index is 118.2, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lafayette costs roughly 18% more than the average American city.

Metric	Lafayette, CA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$1,914,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,856	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	73.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$219,250	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Lafayette's violent crime rate is 80.2 per 100,000 residents — 79% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

80.2 /100k

Property Crime

1267.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Lafayette is served primarily by Lafayette Elementary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Lafayette, CA	National Avg
School District	Lafayette Elementary	—
Elementary Schools	5	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	21.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	75.2%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lafayette sees average highs of 58.4°F in January and 88.3°F in July, with 26.8 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Lafayette, CA
Average High — January	58.4°F
Average High — July	88.3°F
Annual Precipitation	26.8"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Lafayette, CA	National Avg
Population	25,310	—
Median Age	45.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	29.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	77.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.6%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	6.2%	18.9%
Asian	10.3%	6.3%
Under 18	24.2%	22.2%
65 and over	19.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Saranap, CA 2 mi Acalanes Ridge, CA 2 mi Orinda, CA 3 mi Moraga, CA 3 mi Reliez Valley, CA 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Lafayette

Lafayette, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

94549

Lafayette vs Other Cities

Lafayette, CA vs Saranap, CA Lafayette, CA vs Acalanes Ridge, CA Lafayette, CA vs Orinda, CA Lafayette, CA vs Moraga, CA Lafayette, CA vs Reliez Valley, CA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lafayette, CA affordable or expensive?

Lafayette's cost of living index is 118, where 100 is the national average. That puts Lafayette roughly 18% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $1,914,700 and median rent is $2,856/month.

What is the crime rate in Lafayette, CA?

Lafayette's violent crime rate is 80.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1267.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Lafayette?

Public schools in Lafayette are operated by Lafayette Elementary. The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 21.6:1. 75.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Lafayette, CA a good place to live?

Lafayette, CA has a population of 25,310, a median household income of $219,250, and an unemployment rate of 6.3%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Lafayette?

Lafayette averages 58.4°F in January and 88.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.8 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lafayette?

Lafayette, CA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 94549.

What is the population of Lafayette?

The population of Lafayette, California is 25,310 with a median age of 45.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Lafayette?

Key numbers for living in Lafayette: cost of living index 118 (100 = US average), median home $1,914,700, median household income $219,250, crime index 37 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lafayette side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.