State IntegrityReceipts, not verdicts

Economy, jobs and prices in Lafayette, Louisiana: official figures

The median household income in Lafayette was $61,915 a year in the 2020-2024 American Community Survey (in 2024 dollars), 167th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US median was $80,734 and the Louisiana median $60,756.

Median household income
$61,915
2020-2024
Unemployment rate (ACS)
5.2%
2020-2024
Mean travel time to work
20.0 min
2020-2024
Median gross rent (monthly)
$1,100
2020-2024
Median home value (owner-occupied)
$257,000
2020-2024
Homes occupied by their owners
53.1%
2020-2024
Households with a broadband subscription
91.9%
2020-2024

What is the per capita income in Lafayette?

Income per resident (per capita income) in Lafayette averaged $40,517 a year in 2020-2024, 409th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $44,673; Louisiana: $35,038).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How unequal are incomes in Lafayette?

Lafayette's Gini index of household income inequality was 0.512 in 2020-2024 (0 means equal incomes, 1 maximum inequality), 69th most unequal of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US figure was 0.483.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the unemployment rate in Lafayette, Louisiana?

5.2% of the civilian labor force in Lafayette was unemployed on average over 2020-2024 (3,229 people), 403rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more; the US rate in the same survey was 5.2% and Louisiana's 6.3%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Lafayette are working?

63.0% of Lafayette's 99,085 residents aged 16 and over were in the labor force (working or looking for work) in 2020-2024, 246th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 63.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Lafayette have jobs?

58,924 residents of Lafayette held civilian jobs, 59.5% of those aged 16 and over (US: 59.7%), and 265 served in the armed forces.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What are the main industries in Lafayette?

The largest industry group for working residents of Lafayette was education, health care and social assistance (25.8% of employed residents), followed by professional, scientific, management and administrative services (14.5%) and retail trade (12.2%), 2020-2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Lafayette work in manufacturing?

Manufacturing employed 4.3% of working residents of Lafayette, 50th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 9.9%); professional, scientific and management services employed 14.5% (US: 12.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How long is the commute in Lafayette, Louisiana?

Commuters in Lafayette took 20.0 minutes on average to get to work in 2020-2024, 155th shortest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 26.4 minutes); 5.3% travelled an hour or more and 38.0% less than 15 minutes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How do people in Lafayette get to work?

9.9% of workers living in Lafayette worked from home in 2020-2024, 208th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 15.1%). 80.4% drove to work alone, 5.5% carpooled, 0.5% used public transport and 2.0% walked.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What is the average rent in Lafayette, Louisiana?

The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Lafayette was $1,100 a month in 2020-2024, 137th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $1,413; Louisiana: $1,064).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does a house cost in Lafayette?

Owner-occupied homes in Lafayette had a median value of $257,000 in 2020-2024 as estimated by their owners, 211th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: $332,700; Louisiana: $216,500).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How affordable are homes in Lafayette?

The median home value in Lafayette was 4.2 times the median household income, 334th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 4.1 times).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of people in Lafayette, Louisiana own their home?

53.1% of the 52,966 occupied homes in Lafayette were lived in by their owners in 2020-2024 and 24,828 were rented, 274th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more for home ownership (US: 65.2%; Louisiana: 67.4%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What share of homes in Lafayette have broadband?

91.9% of households in Lafayette had a broadband internet subscription of some type in 2020-2024, 350th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 91.0%; Louisiana: 86.6%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many households in Lafayette have no internet?

6.5% of households in Lafayette (3,454) had no internet access at home in 2020-2024, 233rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.5%); 11.1% relied on a cellular data plan alone (US: 11.5%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Lafayette compares with other cities in the United States

Median household income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Lafayette ranks 657 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian household income (2024 dollars)
654Albany$61,986
655Perth Amboy$61,977
656Philadelphia$61,953
657Lafayette$61,915
658Tamarac$61,718
659Newark$61,670
660McAllen$61,579
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Per capita income (2024 dollars) (2020-2024)

Lafayette ranks 415 of 823, highest first.

RankCityPer capita income (2024 dollars)
412Irving$40,642
413Baltimore$40,604
414Herriman$40,547
415Lafayette$40,517
416Bristol$40,503
417Albuquerque$40,469
418Escondido$40,430
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Gini index of household income inequality (2020-2024)

Lafayette ranks 69 of 823, highest first.

RankCityGini index of household income inequality
66Tallahassee0.513
67Palm Desert0.512
68Wilmington0.512
69Lafayette0.512
70Gary0.511
71San Rafael0.511
72Oakland0.511
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Unemployment rate (share of civilian labor force) (2020-2024)

Lafayette ranks 421 of 823, highest first.

RankCityUnemployment rate (share of civilian labor force)
418Spokane Valley5.2%
419Roseville5.2%
420Lakewood5.2%
421Lafayette5.2%
422Tamarac5.2%
423High Point5.2%
424Lubbock5.2%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Labor force participation rate (16 and over) (2020-2024)

Lafayette ranks 578 of 823, highest first.

RankCityLabor force participation rate (16 and over)
575Brentwood63.0%
576Allentown63.0%
577Livonia63.0%
578Lafayette63.0%
579Fresno63.0%
580Newark63.0%
581Council Bluffs63.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Mean travel time to work (minutes) (2020-2024)

Lafayette ranks 669 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMean travel time to work (minutes)
666Tyler20.0
667Victoria20.0
668Olympia20.0
669Lafayette20.0
670Jeffersonville20.0
671Ann Arbor20.0
672Cathedral City19.9
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers who worked from home (2020-2024)

Lafayette ranks 616 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers who worked from home
613Rapid City10.0%
614Burleson10.0%
615Birmingham9.9%
616Lafayette9.9%
617Conway9.9%
618Kalamazoo9.8%
619Fargo9.8%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Workers commuting by public transportation (2020-2024)

Lafayette ranks 598 of 823, highest first.

RankCityWorkers commuting by public transportation
595Boise City0.5%
596Kyle0.5%
597Alpharetta0.5%
598Lafayette0.5%
599Fort Worth0.5%
600Rocklin0.5%
601Gulfport0.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents working in manufacturing (2020-2024)

Lafayette ranks 774 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents working in manufacturing
771Hollywood4.4%
772Orlando4.4%
773Shreveport4.4%
774Lafayette4.3%
775Yuma4.3%
776Berkeley4.3%
777Harlingen4.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Employed residents in education, health care and social assistance (2020-2024)

Lafayette ranks 199 of 823, highest first.

RankCityEmployed residents in education, health care and social assistance
196Billings25.9%
197Hanford25.9%
198Cuyahoga Falls25.8%
199Lafayette25.8%
200New Britain25.7%
201Lakewood25.7%
202Bakersfield25.7%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median gross rent per month (2020-2024)

Lafayette ranks 687 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian gross rent per month
684Columbus$1,106
685Longview$1,101
686Taylor$1,101
687Lafayette$1,100
688Auburn$1,098
689Columbia$1,097
690Iowa City$1,094
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median value of owner-occupied homes (2020-2024)

Lafayette ranks 613 of 823, highest first.

RankCityMedian value of owner-occupied homes
610Newport News$260,600
611Bethlehem$260,400
612Casper$260,400
613Lafayette$257,000
614Great Falls$257,000
615Tuscaloosa$255,500
616Columbus$252,900
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Median home value as a multiple of median household income (2020-2024)

Lafayette ranks 487 of 820, highest first.

RankCityMedian home value as a multiple of median household income
484Cranston4.2x
485Nashua4.2x
486Las Cruces4.2x
487Lafayette4.2x
488Plano4.2x
489Sherman4.1x
490Frederick4.1x
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Occupied homes lived in by their owners (2020-2024)

Lafayette ranks 550 of 823, highest first.

RankCityOccupied homes lived in by their owners
547Toledo53.3%
548Elkhart53.2%
549Bossier City53.2%
550Lafayette53.1%
551Garden Grove53.1%
552Auburn53.1%
553San Rafael53.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with a broadband subscription (2020-2024)

Lafayette ranks 474 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with a broadband subscription
471Fayetteville91.9%
472Warren91.9%
473Menifee91.9%
474Lafayette91.9%
475Cranston91.9%
476Southfield91.9%
477Spokane91.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Households with no internet access (2020-2024)

Lafayette ranks 233 of 823, highest first.

RankCityHouseholds with no internet access
230Baldwin Park6.6%
231Highland6.6%
232Kentwood6.5%
233Lafayette6.5%
234Louisville/Jefferson County metro government6.5%
235Albuquerque6.5%
236Spokane Valley6.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Lafayette: overview · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in the United States

Sources

Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.