West Lafayette is home to 45,159 people in Indiana. The median age is 21.4, younger than the US median of 38.9. 73% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 36% nationally. Owners hold 29% of the housing stock. People stay put here: 53% were in the same home a year ago. 37.3% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $34,891, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 21.4
US median: 38.9
More educated
73% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 33%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about West Lafayette
What changed most since 1990
Asian share8.3% → 21.9%(+13.5 pts)US over the same years: +3.1 pts
Adults with a bachelor's degree68.4% → 73.3%(+4.9 pts)US over the same years: +15.3 pts
Median household income (2024 dollars)$52,288 → $34,891(−33%)US over the same years: +14%
West Lafayette's population equals 24% of Tippecanoe County's. Its number of veterans equals 11% of the county's. Its number of residents living in poverty equals 46% of the county's.
Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.
Section 09 · Service history
Veterans
Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)25.7%(191)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)17.7%(131)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era17.8%(132)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War32.2%(239)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II10.5%(78)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 742 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time
West Lafayette, decade by decade
West Lafayette population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
Year
Population
Median household income
Median home value
Bachelor's degree+
Diversity score
1990
25,907
$52,288
$226,807
68.4%
28.3
2000
28,778
$45,303
$263,776
69.7%
40.1
2010
29,596
$37,386
$245,708
73.7%
51.9
2020
44,595
$38,131
$285,193
71.0%
73.7
2024
45,159
$34,891
$350,000
73.3%
65.0
Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.
