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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

West Lafayette

Indiana · 25,907 residents · 13.6 sq mi
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The short version

With 25,907 people, West Lafayette is a city in Indiana. 68% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, against 20% nationally. Owners hold 33% of the housing stock. The median age is 23.3, younger than the US median of 33.0. 34.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line. The average commute runs 12 minutes.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Younger
median age 23.3
US median: 33.0
More educated
68% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 14%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
25,907
−10%vs 2000
vs 28,778 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
23.3
+5%vs 2000
vs 22.3 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Land area
13.6 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
24K30K37K44K51K19902000201020202024West Lafayette
202445K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 53.5%(900)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 93.1%(814)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 142.6%(676)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 197.4%(1,916)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 2444%(11,390)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3414%(3,631)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 447.9%(2,052)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 545.1%(1,318)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 644%(1,045)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 744.4%(1,148)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 842.7%(708)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.2%(309)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$21,786
+15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $24,869 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$13,169
−28%vs 2000
vs $18,337 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
34.2%
−4.1 ptsvs 2000
vs 38.3% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$94,500
−14%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $144,800 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$482
+3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $614 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
33.5%
+1.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 32.2% in 2000
66.5% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic81.5%(23,454)
Black2.3%(675)
Hispanic / Latino3.2%(920)
Asian11.3%(3,252)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic88.7%(22,974)
Black2%(529)
Hispanic / Latino1.9%(491)
Asian8.3%(2,159)
Other0.9%(245)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.3%(1,048)
Colombian0.8%(340)
Puerto Rican0.5%(244)
Spaniard0.4%(162)
Peruvian0.3%(114)
Argentine0.2%(94)
Cuban0.2%(86)
Venezuelan0.1%(60)
Ecuadorian0.1%(57)
Costa Rican0.1%(40)
+ 7 more hispanic origin groups with data
Nicaraguan0.1%(35)
Salvadoran0.1%(31)
Honduran0.1%(24)
Chilean0.1%(23)
Dominican0%(22)
Asian origin
Asian Indian9.2%(4,172)
Chinese7.1%(3,221)
Korean1.5%(674)
Japanese1%(444)
Taiwanese0.6%(276)
Vietnamese0.5%(231)
Thai0.4%(181)
Filipino0.4%(176)
Pakistani0.2%(93)
Sri Lankan0.2%(72)
Indonesian0.1%(55)
Nepalese0.1%(25)
+ 4 more asian origin groups with data
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German19.8%(8,928)
Irish10.5%(4,725)
English7.4%(3,359)
Italian5%(2,268)
Polish5%(2,240)
American3.3%(1,498)
Scottish3.2%(1,440)
French1.5%(658)
Swedish1.4%(637)
Dutch1.4%(615)
Arab1.2%(532)
+ 45 more ancestry groups with data
Norwegian1%(473)
Czech0.9%(410)
British0.8%(361)
Welsh0.7%(321)
Nigerian0.7%(296)
Slovak0.6%(265)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(247)
Russian0.5%(237)
Swiss0.5%(211)
Lithuanian0.4%(202)
Egyptian0.4%(171)
Greek0.4%(165)
Turkish0.3%(155)
Portuguese0.3%(148)
Croatian0.3%(127)
Ghanaian0.2%(112)
Hungarian0.2%(107)
Ukrainian0.2%(104)
Brazilian0.2%(96)
Serbian0.2%(84)
Iranian0.2%(79)
Palestinian0.2%(76)
Danish0.2%(73)
West Indian0.2%(73)
Romanian0.2%(70)
Austrian0.2%(68)
Armenian0.1%(62)
Canadian0.1%(62)
Syrian0.1%(53)
Belgian0.1%(39)
Israeli0.1%(39)
Macedonian0.1%(36)
Australian0.1%(35)
Bulgarian0.1%(33)
Finnish0.1%(32)
Jamaican0.1%(32)
Lebanese0.1%(28)
Jordanian0%(18)
Haitian0%(17)
Latvian0%(16)
Ethiopian0%(13)
Iraqi0%(7)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
68.4%
−1.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 69.7% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
95.7%
−0.6 ptsvs 2000
vs 96.2% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
41.5%
+1.3 ptsvs 2000
vs 40.2% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
12.5 min
+25%vs 2000
vs 10.0 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married78.6%(18,736)
Married18.5%(4,414)
Widowed1.2%(285)
Divorced1.7%(404)
Women 15+
Never married68.7%(12,598)
Married23.9%(4,384)
Widowed3.9%(722)
Divorced3.5%(645)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
2.5%
−4.5 ptssince 2013
from 7.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
71.2%
+2.8 ptssince 2020
from 68.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
24.9%
−1.5 ptssince 2020
from 26.4% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
7.6%
+0.1 ptssince 2020
from 7.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
5.3%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 5.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
0.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2020
from 0.6% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
90.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2020
from 90.2% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
12.2%
+0.3 ptssince 2020
from 11.9% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

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
Drill deeper

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Compare West Lafayette to nearby cities

WEST LAFAYETTE VS
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Income$53,716+147%
Home value$172,800+83%
Population71,238+56%
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WEST LAFAYETTE VS
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Home value$138,600+47%
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WEST LAFAYETTE VS
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Home value$134,000+42%
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WEST LAFAYETTE VS
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Income$47,291+117%
Home value$92,200−2%
Population18,287−60%
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Frequently asked

How many people live in West Lafayette, Indiana?

West Lafayette, Indiana has about 25,907 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in West Lafayette, Indiana?

The typical household in West Lafayette, Indiana earns about $21,786 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is West Lafayette, Indiana expensive?

In West Lafayette, Indiana, the median home is worth about $94,500, and the typical rent is about $482 a month.

How educated are people in West Lafayette, Indiana?

About 68.4% of adults age 25 and over in West Lafayette, Indiana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in West Lafayette, Indiana?

About 34.2% of people in West Lafayette, Indiana live below the federal poverty line.

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

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