City profile · Indiana · Census ACS 2023

Lafayette, IN

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.

70,650
Residents
$52,946
Median income
$157,600
Median home
$1,242
Median rent (state)

Lafayette - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Lafayette places in the 24th percentile for household income and the 20th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

24th
percentile, household income
29th
percentile, home value
40th
percentile, median rent
20th
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, IN

70,650 people live in Lafayette, Indiana - a small city by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $52,946 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 12.8%. Lafayette's housing stock carries a median value of $157,600, and the median resident age is 33.7 years. 28.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 64.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 661 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 78% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 2642.5 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, near the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 51.6°F with 39.8 inches of precipitation per year and 20.5 inches of snowfall.

Living costs in Indiana run below the national norm: the state registers 93.3 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,242 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Indiana run around $235, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 81.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (High).

Population

70,650 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Indiana

Median Household Income

$52,946 /yr

Poverty 12.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

93.3 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Indiana average

How does Lafayette compare to other US cities?

Here's how Lafayette stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 24% higher than other cities
Home value 29% pricier than other cities
Median rent 40% pricier than other cities
Safety 20% 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 Indiana, Lafayette ranks #95 of 109 Indiana 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 Indiana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Indiana-relative analysis

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

Among the 850 Indiana cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Lafayette ranks #164 - the 81st 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
#543 of 766
29th percentile in Indiana
Median Gross Rent
#201 of 850
74th percentile in Indiana
Median Home Value
#293 of 771
62nd percentile in Indiana
Poverty Rate
#209 of 849
75th percentile in Indiana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#164 of 850
81st percentile in Indiana

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 Indiana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

24thIncome percentile
20thSafety percentile

24th percentile nationally for median household income · 20th 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+)

$157,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 71% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $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, IN Lafayette, IN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lafayette, IN-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, IN median $52,946/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, IN'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, IN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 64.3%

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

Population
70,650
Median Income
$52,946
Median Home Value
$157,600
Median Age
33.7
Poverty Rate
12.8%
Labor force participation
64.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.1%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2642.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
599.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2042.8
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.

Climate

Avg Temperature
51.6°F
Annual Precipitation
39.8"
Annual Snowfall
20.5"

Schools

Total Schools
24
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
70,500 residents71,000 residents71,500 residents72,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 70,760 residents 71,238 residents ▲ +0.7%
Lafayette's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
661
housing units authorized
Single-Family
19
detached homes
Multifamily
642
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
9.4
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 372
2020 436
2021 519
2022 560
2023 517
2024 661

Permit volume increased 78% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.9%
Carpool
7.3%
Public Transit
2.5%
Walk
2.2%
Work from Home
7.5%
Other
0.6%

Based on 35,282 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$110
avg/month
Natural Gas
$80
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$235
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Indiana 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 Indiana 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
93.3
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,242/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
81.8 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Indiana

Noblesville
71,940 people
Gary
68,604 people
Muncie
64,739 people
Greenwood
64,237 people
Hammond
77,098 people
Bloomington
78,791 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lafayette's 70,650 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Baldwin Park, CA
70,720 people
Dublin, CA
70,542 people
Ankeny, IA
70,542 people
Maple Grove, MN
70,539 people
Casas Adobes, AZ
70,770 people
Waukesha, WI
70,779 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lafayette's $52,946 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Hollister, ID
$52,946 median income
Saluda, NC
$52,946 median income
Angustura, NM
$52,948 median income
Scottsboro, AL
$52,949 median income
Fostoria, OH
$52,943 median income
Ardmore, OK
$52,954 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lafayette, IN 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, IN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 76.5% 9.0% 7.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 13.8% White 76.5% Black or African American 9.0% Asian 2.5% American Indian 0.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 4.1% Two or more races 7.8% 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 Indiana 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) 70,650 $52,946
Noblesville 71,940 $102,319
Gary 68,604 $37,380
Muncie 64,739 $43,395
Census ACS 5-year FIPS IN FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lafayette, IN?

What is the population of Lafayette, IN? +

Lafayette, IN counts 70,650 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Lafayette households earn a median of $52,946 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 Indiana state average, a cost of living index of 93.3 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Indiana vary by metro area.

Is Lafayette, IN safe? +

Lafayette has a total crime rate of 2642.5 per 100,000 residents, which is near 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, IN? +

The median home value in Lafayette is $157,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Lafayette? +

Climate normals put Lafayette's yearly average temperature at 51.6°F, 39.8 inches of precipitation, and 20.5 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, 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.