Lafayette is a metro area of 226,805 people. This skews young, with a median age of 31.1. The typical home is worth $228,492, having more than doubled since 2000. People stay put here: 79% were in the same home a year ago. 39,845 more people live here than in 2000. Getting to work takes 19 minutes on average.
At a glance
Lower income
median household income $62,104, below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 31.1
US median: 38.9
Average education
37% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Stable housing
home values roughly flat, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place
What stands out about Lafayette
What changed most since 1990
Median age28.6 → 31.1(+2.5 years)US over the same years: +6.0 years
Poverty rate13.0% → 17.8%(+4.8 pts)US over the same years: −0.8 pts
Among the 37 metro and micro areas based in Indiana
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)23.6%(2,079)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)19.4%(1,705)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era29.8%(2,623)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War8.5%(752)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.4%(120)
US avg: 1%
Share of the 8,810 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
Lafayette, decade by decade
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
167,024
$66,217
$144,805
26.1%
13.7
2000
186,960
$71,568
$190,119
29.1%
26.6
2010
210,297
$62,685
$178,290
31.9%
37.7
2020
223,716
$64,062
$187,229
35.9%
54.3
2024
226,805
$62,104
$228,492
36.8%
51.6
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.
How many people live in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN has about 226,805 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
The typical household in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN earns about $62,104 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN expensive?
In Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN, the median home is worth about $228,492, and the typical rent is about $1,078 a month.
How educated are people in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
About 36.8% of adults age 25 and over in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN?
About 17.8% of people in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN live below the federal poverty line.
Has Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN grown since 1990?
Yes, Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN has grown since 1990. The population has added about 59,781 residents, a change of about 36 percent over that period.
