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Louisiana city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Lafayette?

What it costs to live in Lafayette, and how it compares with other Louisiana cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

41

21st best value in Louisiana

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Louisiana cities.

Overall livability

50

17th overall in Louisiana

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Lafayette is home to about 122,469 people. A typical home runs $209,100 and a household earns around $55,300, a price-to-income ratio of 3.8. Among Louisiana's largest cities, it ranks 21st for value and 17th overall.

Lafayette at a glance

Median home price

$209,100

23rd in LA of 32

Median rent

$948/mo

Median household income

$55,300

Home price to income

3.8x

Unemployment

5.8%

11th in LA of 32

School rating

4/10

11th in LA of 32

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in LA of 32

Walk score

14/100

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‹ See all top Louisiana cities ranked  ยท  Louisiana state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Louisiana only. Updated 2026.