Lafayette is a small town of 5,555 in Tennessee, with a median household income of $40,240
and a 1.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is
3% below the national average.
Strengths:
Lafayette stands out for below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, 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: 97.4
Lafayette's overall cost of living index is 97.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Lafayette costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.
Metric
Lafayette, TN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$165,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$842
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
50.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$40,240
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Lafayette's violent crime rate is 118.2 per 100,000 residents
— 69% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
118.2 /100k
Property Crime
1722.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Lafayette is served primarily by Macon County.
Metric
Lafayette, TN
National Avg
School District
Macon County
—
Elementary Schools
5
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
10.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
75.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Lafayette sees average highs of 44.6°F in January
and 88.3°F in July,
with 58.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 4.6 inches of snow per year.
Lafayette's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Lafayette roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $165,300 and median rent is $842/month.
Lafayette's violent crime rate is 118.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1722.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Lafayette are operated by Macon County.
The district has 5 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
10.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Lafayette, TN has a population of 5,555, a median household income of $40,240, and an unemployment rate of 1.4%.
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 44.6°F in January and 88.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.5 inches
with about 4.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Lafayette, TN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 37083.
The population of Lafayette, Tennessee is 5,555 with a median age of 30.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lafayette: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $165,300, median household income $40,240, crime index 51 (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.
