The Town FilesLafayette, Louisiana
City in Lafayette Parish · population 121,374 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $257,000
- Household income
- $61,915
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 53
- Median age
- 36.9
Lafayette is a city of 121,374 people in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $257,000, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks more vibrant than 97% of Louisiana towns, better for young professionals than 95% of Louisiana towns, better transit than 91% of Louisiana towns.
How Lafayette ranks
Percentile among Louisiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Louisiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lafayette is worth $257,000, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $61,915, which is more affordable than 14% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $1,100 a month. 53.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lafayette | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $257,000 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $1,100 | $887 |
| Median household income | $61,915 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 53.1% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Lafayette
| People | Lafayette | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.9 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.3% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.1% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 18.3% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 5.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.0% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.9% | 84.6% |
Weather in Lafayette
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 41.2°F. About 64.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 81 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 18 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
53 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lafayette since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 21, 1977 about 8.0 miles from the town center and killed 1. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 50 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 14, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 60 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 24, 2015.
Severe weather in Lafayette Parish since 1996
Lafayette Parish has been included in 43 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3638: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 10, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3614: Tropical Storm Francine |
| September 13, 2021 | Coastal Storm | EM-3574: Tropical Storm Nicholas |
| August 29, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4611: Hurricane Ida |
| August 27, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3568: Tropical Storm Ida |
Jobs and pay in Lafayette Parish
Lafayette Parish had 137,173 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,120 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Lafayette itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Lafayette
30 public schools with 21,892 students, about 16.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette High School | 9-12 | 1,862 | 18.3 |
| Acadiana High School | 9-12 | 1,835 | 19.5 |
| Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy (charter) | PK-12 | 1,809 | 22.9 |
| David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy | 6-12 | 1,366 | 20.7 |
| Milton Elementary School | PK-8 | 1,300 | 18.8 |
| Carencro High School | 9-12 | 1,243 | 18.8 |
| O. Comeaux High School | 9-12 | 982 | 15.3 |
| L.J. Alleman Middle School | 6-8 | 903 | 17.0 |
| Woodvale Elementary School | PK-5 | 845 | 14.3 |
| Broadmoor Elementary School | PK-5 | 773 | 14.9 |
| Northside High School | 9-12 | 727 | 15.8 |
| Prairie Elementary School | PK-5 | 674 | 13.5 |
Towns near Lafayette
- Scott, LA4.6 mi · 8,119 people · home $170,300
- Broussard, LA6.4 mi · 13,417 people · home $310,200
- Milton, LA6.8 mi · 2,590 people · home $264,800
- Carencro, LA7.4 mi · 9,272 people · home $214,800
- Youngsville, LA7.8 mi · 15,929 people · home $287,700
- Breaux Bridge, LA9.0 mi · 7,513 people · home $175,900
- St. Martinville, LA13.0 mi · 5,379 people · home $100,100
- Sunset, LA14.0 mi · 2,909 people · home $206,100
Lafayette questions
Is Lafayette, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lafayette scores better for retirees than 45% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 6%. 17.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.9).
How much does a house cost in Lafayette?
The median owner-occupied home in Lafayette is valued at $257,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,915, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,100 a month.
What is the weather like in Lafayette?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 41.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 64.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Lafayette get tornadoes?
53 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lafayette since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 21, 1977. The typical Louisiana town has had 27.
- 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)