The Town FilesLa Fayette, Alabama
City in Chambers County · population 2,684 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $85,900
- Household income
- $32,601
- Jan low / Jul high
- 30° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 44.1
La Fayette is a city of 2,684 people in Chambers County, Alabama. The median home is worth $85,900, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). It ranks better for retirees than 91% of Alabama towns, easier by car than 85% of Alabama towns, quieter than 82% of Alabama towns.
How La Fayette ranks
Percentile among Alabama towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Alabama towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in La Fayette is worth $85,900, below the typical Alabama town ($161,250). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $32,601, which is more affordable than 69% of Alabama towns. Median rent is $645 a month. 57.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | La Fayette | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $85,900 | $161,250 |
| Median rent | $645 | $834 |
| Median household income | $32,601 | $56,250 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 57.8% | 71.3% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1981 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in La Fayette
| People | La Fayette | Typical Alabama town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.1 | 39.9 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.4% | 18.1% |
| Under 18 | 15.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.5% | 17.3% |
| Below the poverty line | 33.4% | 16.7% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.5% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 5.1% |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.4% | 86.7% |
Weather in La Fayette
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 30.2°F. About 56.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Alabama town: 0.6 in). Expect about 59 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 72 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of La Fayette since 1950, compared with 30 for the typical Alabama town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on April 27, 2011 about 7.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 15, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 26, 2023.
Severe weather in Chambers County since 1996
Chambers County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618: Hurricane Helene |
| May 5, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4710: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| January 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4684: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes |
| September 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545: Hurricane Sally |
| May 21, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4546: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Chambers County
Chambers County had 9,087 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,152 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in La Fayette itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in La Fayette
4 public schools with 648 students, about 16.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette Eastside Elementary School | PK-5 | 306 | 18.0 |
| Lafayette High School | 9-12 | 198 | 13.2 |
| John P Powell Middle School | 6-8 | 144 | 18.0 |
| Inspire Academy | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near La Fayette
- Lanett, AL11.5 mi · 6,970 people · home $95,600
- Valley, AL14.2 mi · 10,529 people · home $140,800
- West Point, GA15.0 mi · 3,719 people · home $199,500
- Opelika, AL16.5 mi · 30,995 people · home $241,800
- Roanoke, AL17.1 mi · 5,311 people · home $154,300
- Auburn, AL20.9 mi · 76,143 people · home $364,800
- Dadeville, AL22.4 mi · 3,084 people · home $171,600
- LaGrange, GA22.8 mi · 30,858 people · home $216,300
La Fayette questions
Is La Fayette, Alabama a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, La Fayette scores better for retirees than 91% of Alabama towns and quieter than 82%. 23.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.1).
How much does a house cost in La Fayette?
The median owner-occupied home in La Fayette is valued at $85,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $32,601, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $645 a month.
What is the weather like in La Fayette?
July highs average 90.0°F and January lows 30.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 56.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does La Fayette get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of La Fayette since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on April 27, 2011. The typical Alabama town has had 30.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)