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CITY

Lafayette

Indiana · 71,238 residents (2025 est.) · 29.377 sq mi
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The short version

Lafayette has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $53,716. Population has grown 26% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $172,800. At a median age of 33.0, residents skew younger than the country as a whole. Households here earn about 25% less than the Indiana median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 33.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
71,159
+26%since 2000
from 56,397 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
2,422 / sq mi
+26%since 2000
from 1,920 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
33.0
+4%since 2000
from 31.7 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:71,238 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
41K50K58K67K75K1990201020202024Lafayette
202471K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$53,716
−18%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $35,859 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$30,390
+58%since 2000
from $19,217 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.5%
+14.9 ptssince 2009
from 18.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.8%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 12.1% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.410
−5%since 2010
from 0.431 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Retail trade24.9%
US avg: 9.9%
Information11%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade5%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance3.1%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services2.9%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical2.7%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration2.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing1.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing0.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
Construction0.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0.1%
US avg: 0.4%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$172,800
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $89,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,079
+6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $560 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
46.7%
−6.2 ptssince 2000
from 52.9% in 2000
53.3% rent
Vacancy rate
5.4%
−3.6 ptssince 2009
from 9.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
16.4%
−7.7 ptssince 2009
from 24.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
50.0%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+29%since 2000
from 2.5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
42
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lafayette on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic84.9%(47,896)
Black3.2%(1,790)
Hispanic / Latino9.1%(5,136)
Asian1.2%(687)
Other0%
Diversity Score30.7%(17,323)
2024
White, non-Hispanic68.7%(48,890)
Black10.3%(7,356)
Hispanic / Latino14.4%(10,274)
Asian2.5%(1,768)
Other4%(2,871)
Diversity Score61.8%(43,957)
Diversity Score
62
+101%since 2000
from 31 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.9%
+4.2 ptssince 2000
from 23.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
88.5%
+5.4 ptssince 2000
from 83.1% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
9.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2000
from 9.2% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.4 min
+42%since 2000
from 11.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
79.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 78.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.6%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
2.2%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 3.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.0%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.9% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.8%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
11.0%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 9.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.6%
−5.5 ptssince 2011
from 9.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
66.2%
−4.4 ptssince 2011
from 70.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.6%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
33.9%
−26.1 ptssince 2009
from 60.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.9%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
51.1%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
10.9%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.8%
−42.3 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
11.5%
−2.0 ptssince 2012
from 13.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.5%
−74.4 ptssince 2013
from 81.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
91.4%
+15.4 ptssince 2017
from 76.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
88.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 88.2% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
8.1%
−1.1 ptssince 2016
from 9.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Drill deeper

Places similar to Lafayette

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Pop 71,753
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Pop 67,884
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Kissimmee
Pop 85,591
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Head to head

Compare Lafayette to nearby cities

LAFAYETTE VS
West Lafayette
Income$34,891−35%
Home value$350,000+103%
Population45,747−36%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAFAYETTE VS
Frankfort
Income$57,412+7%
Home value$138,600−20%
Population16,837−76%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAFAYETTE VS
Crawfordsville
Income$55,033+2%
Home value$134,000−22%
Population16,699−77%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAFAYETTE VS
Lebanon
Income$65,154+21%
Home value$195,600+13%
Population17,913−75%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lafayette, Indiana?

Lafayette, Indiana has about 71,159 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Lafayette, Indiana?

The typical household in Lafayette, Indiana earns about $53,716 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lafayette, Indiana expensive?

In Lafayette, Indiana, the median home is worth about $172,800, and the typical rent is about $1,079 a month.

How educated are people in Lafayette, Indiana?

About 27.9% of adults age 25 and over in Lafayette, Indiana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lafayette, Indiana?

About 17.8% of people in Lafayette, Indiana live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lafayette, Indiana grown since 1990?

Yes, Lafayette, Indiana has grown since 1990. The population has added about 27,395 residents, a change of about 63 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →