Below Average CostNear National AverageLafayette School Corporation
Lafayette.downtown.Riehle.Plaza · Qsthomson at English Wikipedia / CC0Lafayette skyline from West Lafayette · Huw Williams (Huwmanbeing) / Public domainVista de Lafayette desde el puente de Main St, Indiana, Estados Unidos, 2012-10-15, DD 02 · Diego Delso / CC BY-SA 3.0Lafayette.CityBus.turbines · Qsthomson / CC BY-SA 3.0
Lafayette is a mid-sized city of 70,828 in Indiana, with a median household income of $50,674
and a 4.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Lafayette stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. 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: 91.5
Lafayette's overall cost of living index is 91.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Lafayette costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Lafayette, IN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$145,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$976
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
46.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$50,674
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Lafayette's violent crime rate is 599.7 per 100,000 residents
— 58% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
599.7 /100k
Property Crime
2042.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Lafayette is served primarily by Lafayette School Corporation.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Lafayette, IN
National Avg
School District
Lafayette School Corporation
—
Elementary Schools
8
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
27.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Lafayette sees average highs of 33.4°F in January
and 83.8°F in July,
with 41.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 20.5 inches of snow per year.
Lafayette's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Lafayette roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $145,200 and median rent is $976/month.
Lafayette's violent crime rate is 599.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2042.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Lafayette are operated by Lafayette School Corporation.
The district has 8 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 27.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Lafayette, IN has a population of 70,828, a median household income of $50,674, and an unemployment rate of 4.4%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Lafayette averages 33.4°F in January and 83.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.6 inches
with about 20.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Lafayette, IN is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 47905, 47904, 47901.
The population of Lafayette, Indiana is 70,828 with a median age of 33.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lafayette: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $145,200, median household income $50,674, crime index 134 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. 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.
