Lafayette is a small town of 582 in Virginia, with a median household income of $32,412
and a 61.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Lafayette stands out for an affordable cost of living.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include 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: 90.7
Lafayette's overall cost of living index is 90.7,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Lafayette costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Lafayette, VA
National Avg
Median Home Value
N/A
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
N/A
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
91.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$32,412
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Lafayette's violent crime rate is 204.0 per 100,000 residents
— 46% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
204.0 /100k
Property Crime
1211.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Lafayette, VA
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
12.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
74.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Lafayette sees average highs of 40.3°F in January
and 80.0°F in July,
with 41.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 18.4 inches of snow per year.
Lafayette's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Lafayette roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is N/A and median rent is N/A/month.
Lafayette's violent crime rate is 204.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1211.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Lafayette, VA has a population of 582, a median household income of $32,412, and an unemployment rate of 61.1%.
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.
Lafayette averages 40.3°F in January and 80.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 41.7 inches
with about 18.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Lafayette, Virginia is 582 with a median age of 42.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lafayette: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home N/A, median household income $32,412, crime index 55 (100 = US average, lower is safer). 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.