The Town FilesLafayette, Tennessee
City in Macon County · population 5,584 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $213,900
- Household income
- $51,736
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 5 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 32.3
Lafayette is a city of 5,584 people in Macon County, Tennessee. The median home is worth $213,900, close to the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). It ranks more vibrant than 74% of Tennessee towns, better for young professionals than 70% of Tennessee towns.
How Lafayette ranks
Percentile among Tennessee towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Tennessee towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lafayette is worth $213,900, close to the typical Tennessee town ($204,650). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $51,736, which is more affordable than 37% of Tennessee towns. Median rent is $896 a month. 48.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lafayette | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $213,900 | $204,650 |
| Median rent | $896 | $863 |
| Median household income | $51,736 | $57,917 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.7× |
| Homeownership | 48.5% | 69.7% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1980 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.9% | — |
Who lives in Lafayette
| People | Lafayette | Typical Tennessee town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.3 | 40.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.3% | 18.4% |
| Under 18 | 29.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.8% | 18.2% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.6% | 14.2% |
| Veterans | 4.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.5% | — |
| Work from home | 1.5% | 8.2% |
| Average commute | 28.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.9% | 88.2% |
Weather in Lafayette
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 25.3°F. About 55.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 4.7 inches of snow (typical Tennessee town: 3.5 in). Expect about 36 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 100 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lafayette since 1950, compared with 16 for the typical Tennessee town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 6, 2008 about 9.2 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 20 deaths and 60 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 18, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 23 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on April 7, 2006.
Severe weather in Macon County since 1996
Macon County has been included in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4898: Severe Winter Storm |
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3635: Severe Winter Storm |
| April 2, 2025 | Severe Storm | EM-3625: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| June 17, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4792: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding |
| May 17, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4712: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornado |
Jobs and pay in Macon County
Macon County had 5,468 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,310 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Lafayette itself the ACS puts it at 5.4%.
Public schools in Lafayette
5 public schools with 3,141 students, about 19.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macon County High School | 9-12 | 967 | 19.3 |
| Macon County Junior High School | 6-8 | 771 | 19.3 |
| Fairlane Elementary | PK-1 | 509 | 18.9 |
| Central Elementary | 2-3 | 450 | 18.8 |
| Lafayette Elementary School | 4-5 | 444 | 21.1 |
Towns near Lafayette
- Hartsville/Trousdale County, TN11.5 mi · 11,615 people · home $337,600
- Westmoreland, TN12.2 mi · 2,718 people · home $241,700
- Scottsville, KY18.4 mi · 4,299 people · home $160,700
- Gallatin, TN26.2 mi · 44,431 people · home $372,000
- Portland, TN28.0 mi · 13,156 people · home $282,200
- Lebanon, TN28.4 mi · 38,431 people · home $378,400
Lafayette questions
Is Lafayette, Tennessee a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lafayette scores better for retirees than 1% of Tennessee towns and quieter than 5%. 12.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.3).
How much does a house cost in Lafayette?
The median owner-occupied home in Lafayette is valued at $213,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $51,736, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $896 a month.
What is the weather like in Lafayette?
July highs average 87.7°F and January lows 25.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.0 inches of precipitation a year and 4.7 inches of snow.
Does Lafayette get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lafayette since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on February 6, 2008. The typical Tennessee town has had 16.
- 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)