City profile · Minnesota · Census ACS 2023

Lafayette, MN

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.

478
Residents
$95,500
Median income
$142,700
Median home
$1,171
Median rent (state)

Lafayette - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Lafayette lands in the 75th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

75th
percentile, household income
24th
percentile, home value
34th
percentile, median rent
📝 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, MN

Lafayette is a small town in Minnesota, home to 478 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $95,500 per year, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.8%. Home values in Lafayette run a median of $142,700, and the median resident age is 42.1 years. Educational attainment runs 21.8% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 73.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits).

Minnesota tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Minnesota at 98.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,171 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Minnesota, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 45.4 out of 100 (Low).

Population

478 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Minnesota

Median Household Income

$95,500 /yr

Poverty 2.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

98.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Minnesota 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 75% higher than other cities
Home value 24% pricier than other cities
Median rent 34% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

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

Minnesota-relative analysis

Poverty Rate sits close to the middle of Minnesota's city distribution

Among the 785 Minnesota cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Lafayette ranks #549 - the 29th 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
#151 of 775
81st percentile in Minnesota
Median Gross Rent
#270 of 785
64th percentile in Minnesota
Median Home Value
#480 of 774
38th percentile in Minnesota
Poverty Rate
#549 of 785
29th percentile in Minnesota
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#353 of 784
55th percentile in Minnesota

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

75thIncome percentile

75th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Lafayette's home value compares nationally

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

$142,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 76% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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, MN Lafayette, MN's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lafayette, MN-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, MN median $95,500/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, MN'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, MN. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.8%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 73.6%

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

Population
478
Median Income
$95,500
Median Home Value
$142,700
Median Age
42.1
Poverty Rate
2.8%
Labor force participation
73.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.8%

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
450 residents460 residents470 residents480 residents490 residents500 residents 202020212022202320242025 491 residents 462 residents ▼ -5.9%
Lafayette's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.9%
Carpool
15.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.3%
Work from Home
3.3%

Based on 299 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$95
avg/month
Natural Gas
$85
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$45
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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
98.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,171/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
45.4 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Minnesota

Verndale
479 people
Racine
476 people
Floodwood
482 people
Jenkins
472 people
St. Marys Point
484 people
Ellsworth
471 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lafayette's 478 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Nutrioso, AZ
478 people
Solomon, AZ
478 people
Pescadero, CA
478 people
Downieville-Lawson-Dumont, CO
478 people
Ramsey, IN
478 people
Livermore, IA
478 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lafayette's $95,500 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Montour, IA
$95,500 median income
Modoc, SC
$95,500 median income
Superior, WY
$95,500 median income
Knobel, AR
$95,508 median income
Fostoria, MI
$95,491 median income
Lanham, MD
$95,488 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lafayette, MN 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, MN - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 97.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.3% White 97.3% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 2.1% 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 Minnesota 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) 478 $95,500
Verndale 479 $44,083
Racine 476 $95,125
Floodwood 482 $40,972
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MN Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lafayette, MN?

What is the population of Lafayette, MN? +

478 people live in Lafayette, MN according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Lafayette is $95,500 per year, 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 Minnesota state average, a cost of living index of 98.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Minnesota vary by metro area.

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

Homes in Lafayette carry a median value of $142,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, 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.