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METRO AREA

Lafayette Metro

Lafayette, LA · 4 counties · 423,758 residents (2025 est.) · 2,833.596 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 $61,386. Population has grown 18% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $210,086.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Younger
median age 37.4
US median: 38.9
Less educated
28% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 52%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
413,428
+18%since 2000
from 351,754 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
146 / sq mi
+18%since 2000
from 124 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
37.4
+13%since 2000
from 33.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:423,758 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
304K335K366K397K428K1990201020202024Lafayette
2024413K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$61,386
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $32,995 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,892
+114%since 2000
from $16,791 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
42.2%
+16.0 ptssince 2009
from 26.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
18.4%
−0.6 ptssince 2000
from 19.0% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.491
+4%since 2010
from 0.471 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade7.8%
US avg: 6.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing6.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Retail trade6.3%
US avg: 9.9%
Manufacturing5.9%
US avg: 0.4%
Other services5.3%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical3.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration3.8%
US avg: 4.8%
Transportation & warehousing2.9%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.3%
US avg: 1.9%
Education & health services0.9%
US avg: 0.9%
Construction0.8%
US avg: 1.2%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$210,086
+52%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $75,884 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$953
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $414 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
68.3%
−2.6 ptssince 2000
from 70.9% in 2000
31.7% rent
Vacancy rate
12.2%
+2.2 ptssince 2009
from 10.0% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
17.6%
−1.5 ptssince 2009
from 19.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
44.2%
+7.5 ptssince 2009
from 36.7% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.4
+49%since 2000
from 2.3 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
44
RELATED:See current rent listings in Lafayette on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic74.1%(260,751)
Black22.4%(78,845)
Hispanic / Latino1.4%(5,005)
Asian1%(3,539)
Other0%
Diversity Score48.4%(170,347)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic65.9%(272,314)
Black22.7%(94,008)
Hispanic / Latino5.6%(23,030)
Asian1.5%(6,398)
Other4.3%(17,678)
Diversity Score63.7%(263,185)
Segregation Score38.7%(160,066)
Diversity Score
64
+31%since 2000
from 48 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
39
−2%since 2020
from 39 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
27.6%
+9.4 ptssince 2000
from 18.2% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.3%
+14.5 ptssince 2000
from 72.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
8.3%
+2.7 ptssince 2000
from 5.6% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.3 min
+50%since 2000
from 16.9 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
81.1%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 84.3% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
6.5%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 9.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.4%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
8.8%
+6.4 ptssince 2009
from 2.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
1.7%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.9%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.3%
−1.2 ptssince 2011
from 6.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.9%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 64.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.2%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
38.5%
−21.9 ptssince 2009
from 60.4% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
48.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 48.6% in 2009
Female
51.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 51.4% in 2009
Foreign born
3.9%
+1.7 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
5.2%
−42.5 ptssince 2009
from 47.8% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.6%
+1.1 ptssince 2012
from 13.5% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
7.9%
−75.8 ptssince 2013
from 83.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
88.7%
+13.5 ptssince 2017
from 75.2% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
90.5%
+5.1 ptssince 2016
from 85.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
3.3%
+0.3 ptssince 2016
from 3.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

LafayetteCENTRAL123,311
What's inside

4 component counties

Lafayette ParishCENTRAL257,949Vermilion Parish57,671Acadia Parish57,032St. Martin Parish51,106
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Lafayette

Ocala
Pop 442,660
Gulfport
Pop 431,329
Fayetteville
Pop 395,412
Flint
Pop 401,093
Places similar to Lafayette
Head to head

Compare Lafayette side by side

LAFAYETTE VS
Ocala
Income$61,010−1%
Home value$243,100+16%
Population442,660+4%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAFAYETTE VS
Gulfport
Income$62,786+2%
Home value$204,637−3%
Population431,329+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAFAYETTE VS
Fayetteville
Income$61,788+1%
Home value$201,958−4%
Population395,412−7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAFAYETTE VS
Flint
Income$62,281+1%
Home value$182,400−13%
Population401,093−5%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Lafayette, LA?

Lafayette, LA has about 413,428 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Lafayette, LA?

The typical household in Lafayette, LA earns about $61,386 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Lafayette, LA expensive?

In Lafayette, LA, the median home is worth about $210,086, and the typical rent is about $953 a month.

How educated are people in Lafayette, LA?

About 27.6% of adults age 25 and over in Lafayette, LA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Lafayette, LA?

About 18.4% of people in Lafayette, LA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Lafayette, LA grown since 1990?

Yes, Lafayette, LA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 98,751 residents, a change of about 31 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →