What are the schools like in Lafayette, OR?

Lafayette is served primarily by McMinnville SD 40. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 17.2:1.

What is the median household income in Lafayette?

The median household income in Lafayette, OR is $93,243 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.7%.

What is the weather like in Lafayette, OR?

Lafayette has an average high temperature of 46.7°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 37.6 inches and annual snowfall averages 1.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Lafayette, OR affordable or expensive?

Lafayette's cost of living index is 107, where 100 represents the national average. This means Lafayette is 7% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $353,800 and the median rent is $1,116 per month.

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

Lafayette has a violent crime rate of 121.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 786.2 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Lafayette, OR a Good Place to Live?

Lafayette is a small town of 4,391 in Oregon, with a median household income of $93,243 and a 4.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 107 (US average = 100), which is 7% above the national average.

Strengths: Lafayette's profile is close to national averages across most measures.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. 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: 106.6

Lafayette's overall cost of living index is 106.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Lafayette costs roughly 7% more than the average American city.

Metric	Lafayette, OR	National Avg
Median Home Value	$353,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,116	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	88.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$93,243	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Lafayette's violent crime rate is 121.4 per 100,000 residents — 68% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

121.4 /100k

Property Crime

786.2 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Lafayette is served primarily by McMinnville SD 40. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.2:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Lafayette, OR	National Avg
School District	McMinnville SD 40	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	17.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	18.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	90.8%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Lafayette sees average highs of 46.7°F in January and 83.3°F in July, with 37.6 inches of annual precipitation and 1.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Lafayette, OR
Average High — January	46.7°F
Average High — July	83.3°F
Annual Precipitation	37.6"
Annual Snowfall	1.0"

Demographics

Metric	Lafayette, OR	National Avg
Population	4,391	—
Median Age	34.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	35.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	71.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	23.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.3%	6.3%
Under 18	24.7%	22.2%
65 and over	11.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Dayton, OR 2 mi Carlton, OR 5 mi McMinnville, OR 5 mi Dundee, OR 5 mi St. Paul, OR 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Lafayette

Lafayette, OR is covered by 1 ZIP code:

97127

Lafayette vs Other Cities

Lafayette, OR vs Dayton, OR Lafayette, OR vs Carlton, OR Lafayette, OR vs McMinnville, OR Lafayette, OR vs Dundee, OR Lafayette, OR vs St. Paul, OR

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lafayette, OR affordable or expensive?

Lafayette's cost of living index is 107, where 100 is the national average. That puts Lafayette roughly 7% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $353,800 and median rent is $1,116/month.

What is the crime rate in Lafayette, OR?

Lafayette's violent crime rate is 121.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 786.2 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 McMinnville SD 40. The district has 6 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.2:1. 18.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Lafayette, OR a good place to live?

Lafayette, OR has a population of 4,391, a median household income of $93,243, and an unemployment rate of 4.7%. 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 46.7°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 37.6 inches with about 1.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Lafayette?

Lafayette, OR is covered by 1 ZIP code: 97127.

What is the population of Lafayette?

The population of Lafayette, Oregon is 4,391 with a median age of 34.0. 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 107 (100 = US average), median home $353,800, median household income $93,243, crime index 34 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. 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.