What are the schools like in Lafayette, LA?

Lafayette is served primarily by Lafayette Parish. The district operates 24 elementary schools, 10 middle schools, and 10 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.6:1.

What is the median household income in Lafayette?

The median household income in Lafayette, LA is $58,850 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.1%.

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

Q: Is Lafayette, LA affordable or expensive?

Lafayette's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lafayette is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $234,900 and the median rent is $1,022 per month.

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

Lafayette has a violent crime rate of 1066.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 4347.5 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Q: What is the weather like in Lafayette, LA?

Lafayette has an average high temperature of 61.5°F in January and 91.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 64.7 inches.

Is Lafayette, LA a Good Place to Live?

Lafayette is a mid-sized city of 121,706 in Louisiana, with a median household income of $58,850 and a 6.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

Strengths: Lafayette stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, 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: 87.0

Lafayette's overall cost of living index is 87.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lafayette costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Lafayette, LA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$234,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,022	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	56.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$58,850	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Lafayette's violent crime rate is 1066.1 per 100,000 residents — 181% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

1066.1 /100k

Property Crime

4347.5 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Lafayette is served primarily by Lafayette Parish. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.6:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Lafayette, LA	National Avg
School District	Lafayette Parish	—
Elementary Schools	24	—
Middle Schools	10	—
High Schools	10	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.6:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	40.0%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lafayette sees average highs of 61.5°F in January and 91.0°F in July, with 64.7 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Lafayette, LA
Average High — January	61.5°F
Average High — July	91.0°F
Annual Precipitation	64.7"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Lafayette, LA	National Avg
Population	121,706	—
Median Age	36.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	20.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	61.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	29.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.5%	18.9%
Asian	2.4%	6.3%
Under 18	21.2%	22.2%
65 and over	16.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Scott, LA 5 mi Broussard, LA 6 mi Milton, LA 7 mi Ossun, LA 7 mi Carencro, LA 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Lafayette

Lafayette, LA is covered by 5 ZIP codes:

70508 70506 70501 70503 70507

Lafayette vs Other Cities

Lafayette, LA vs Scott, LA Lafayette, LA vs Broussard, LA Lafayette, LA vs Milton, LA Lafayette, LA vs Ossun, LA Lafayette, LA vs Carencro, LA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lafayette, LA affordable or expensive?

Lafayette's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Lafayette roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $234,900 and median rent is $1,022/month.

What is the crime rate in Lafayette, LA?

Lafayette's violent crime rate is 1066.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4347.5 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 Parish. The district has 24 elementary, 10 middle, and 10 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.6:1. 40.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Lafayette, LA a good place to live?

Lafayette, LA has a population of 121,706, a median household income of $58,850, and an unemployment rate of 6.1%. 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.

What is the weather like in Lafayette?

Lafayette averages 61.5°F in January and 91.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 64.7 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lafayette?

Lafayette, LA is covered by 5 ZIP codes: 70508, 70506, 70501, 70503, 70507.

What is the population of Lafayette?

The population of Lafayette, Louisiana is 121,706 with a median age of 36.9. 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 87 (100 = US average), median home $234,900, median household income $58,850, crime index 251 (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.