Below Average CostVery SafeWest Lafayette Com School Corp
West Lafayette, Indiana Public Library and urban spread, Autumn · Quinn Thomson / CC BY-SA 3.0Morton School, West Lafayette · Nyttend / Public domainCelery Bog · Qsthomson / CC BY-SA 3.0Chauncey.village2011 · Qsthomson / CC BY-SA 3.0
West Lafayette is a small city of 44,861 in Indiana, with a median household income of $30,317
and a 3.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
West Lafayette stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether West Lafayette is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All West 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
West Lafayette's overall cost of living index is 91.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in West Lafayette costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
West Lafayette, IN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$303,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$1,056
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
29.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$30,317
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
West Lafayette's violent crime rate is 93.5 per 100,000 residents
— 75% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
93.5 /100k
Property Crime
1204.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
West Lafayette is served primarily by West Lafayette Com School Corp.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
West Lafayette, IN
National Avg
School District
West Lafayette Com School Corp
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
71.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
97.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
West Lafayette sees average highs of 33.4°F in January
and 83.8°F in July,
with 42.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 18.9 inches of snow per year.
West Lafayette's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes West Lafayette roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $303,300 and median rent is $1,056/month.
West Lafayette's violent crime rate is 93.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1204.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in West Lafayette are operated by West Lafayette Com School Corp.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.6:1. 71.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
West Lafayette, IN has a population of 44,861, a median household income of $30,317, and an unemployment rate of 3.3%.
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.
West Lafayette averages 33.4°F in January and 83.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 42.9 inches
with about 18.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
West Lafayette, IN is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 47906, 47907.
The population of West Lafayette, Indiana is 44,861 with a median age of 21.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in West Lafayette: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $303,300, median household income $30,317, crime index 38 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare West Lafayette side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
