City profile · Colorado · Census ACS 2023

Lafayette, CO

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Lafayette - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

30,471
Residents
$110,431
Median income
$647,600
Median home
$2,089
Median rent (state)

Lafayette - the verdict

Nationally, Lafayette sits in the 83rd percentile for household income and the 16th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

83rd
percentile, household income
91st
percentile, home value
85th
percentile, median rent
16th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Lafayette, CO

30,471 people live in Lafayette, Colorado - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Lafayette brings in $110,431 a year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.5%. Home values in Lafayette run a median of $647,600, and the median resident age is 39.4 years. About 65.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 71.8% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 9 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 95% from five years earlier. Lafayette's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 2953.1 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, above the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Colorado carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 103.1 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,089 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Colorado run around $202, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 17.4 minutes, with 61.1% driving alone and 27.7% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 34.7 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

30,471 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Colorado

Median Household Income

$110,431 /yr

Poverty 2.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.1 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Colorado average

How does Lafayette compare to other US cities?

Lafayette measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 83% higher than other cities
Home value 91% pricier than other cities
Median rent 85% pricier than other cities
Safety 16% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Colorado, Lafayette ranks #81 of 116 Colorado cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Lafayette against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Colorado only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Colorado-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Lafayette toward the top of Colorado's cities

Among the 408 Colorado cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Lafayette ranks #57 - the 86th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Lafayette only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#99 of 379
74th percentile in Colorado
Median Gross Rent
#44 of 408
57th percentile in Colorado
Median Home Value
#91 of 388
77th percentile in Colorado
Poverty Rate
#257 of 408
36th percentile in Colorado
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#57 of 408
86th percentile in Colorado

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Colorado only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

83rdIncome percentile
16thSafety percentile

83rd percentile nationally for median household income · 16th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Lafayette's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Lafayette's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 37 Avg. percentile National median
Lafayette's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Lafayette's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$647,600 9th percentile more affordable than 9% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). This entry sits in this band. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Lafayette $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Lafayette, CO Lafayette, CO's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lafayette, CO-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Lafayette, CO median $110,431/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Lafayette, CO's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Lafayette, CO. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 65.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 71.8%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
30,471
Median Income
$110,431
Median Home Value
$647,600
Median Age
39.4
Poverty Rate
2.5%
Labor force participation
71.8%
Bachelor's Degree+
65.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2953.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
272.6
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2680.5
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
8
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
30,000 residents30,200 residents30,400 residents30,600 residents30,800 residents31,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 30,390 residents 30,116 residents ▼ -0.9%
Lafayette's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
9
housing units authorized
Single-Family
9
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.3
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 178
2020 256
2021 76
2022 126
2023 70
2024 9

Permit volume decreased 95% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
17.4 minutes
Drive Alone
61.1%
Carpool
6.1%
Public Transit
2.0%
Walk
1.0%
Work from Home
27.7%
Other
2.1%

Based on 17,242 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Colorado - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$90
avg/month
Natural Gas
$62
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$50
avg/month
Total Utilities
$202
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Colorado state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Colorado state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Lafayette sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.1
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,089/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
34.7 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Colorado

Fountain
29,327 people
Erie
31,927 people
Wheat Ridge
32,158 people
Ken Caryl
33,407 people
Englewood
33,774 people
Dakota Ridge
34,159 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lafayette's 30,471 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Morrisville, NC
30,471 people
Ferry Pass, FL
30,467 people
Gurnee, IL
30,486 people
Princeton, NJ
30,451 people
Liberty, MO
30,446 people
Redan, GA
30,426 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lafayette's $110,431 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lake Hughes, CA
$110,438 median income
Goodfield, IL
$110,417 median income
Greene, ME
$110,417 median income
Dante, SD
$110,417 median income
East Columbia, TX
$110,417 median income
Brady, WA
$110,417 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lafayette, CO Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Lafayette, CO - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 79.3% 11.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 16.2% White 79.3% Black or African American 0.7% Asian 3.9% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 4.5% Two or more races 11.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Lafayette compares to nearby Colorado cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Lafayette (this city) 30,471 $110,431
Fountain 29,327 $85,246
Erie 31,927 $163,644
Wheat Ridge 32,158 $87,598
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CO FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lafayette, CO?

What is the population of Lafayette, CO? +

Lafayette, CO counts 30,471 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Lafayette, CO? +

Lafayette households earn a median of $110,431 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lafayette? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Lafayette; the closest available measure is the Colorado state average, a cost of living index of 103.1 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Colorado vary by metro area.

Is Lafayette, CO safe? +

Lafayette has a total crime rate of 2953.1 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Lafayette, CO? +

Lafayette's median home value sits at $647,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.