The Town FilesLafayette, Wisconsin
Town in Chippewa County · population 6,197 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $353,400
- Household income
- $101,651
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 48.3
Lafayette is a town of 6,197 people in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $353,400, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for retirees than 89% of Wisconsin towns, better for young professionals than 88% of Wisconsin towns, more of a college town than 84% of Wisconsin towns.
How Lafayette ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lafayette is worth $353,400, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $101,651, which is more affordable than 32% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $1,192 a month. 89.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lafayette | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $353,400 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $1,192 | $951 |
| Median household income | $101,651 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 89.3% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.1% | — |
Who lives in Lafayette
| People | Lafayette | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.3 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 2.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.4% | — |
| Work from home | 14.3% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 29.4 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.8% | 89.1% |
Weather in Lafayette
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 5.8°F. About 33.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.2 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 163 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lafayette since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. 7 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 4, 1958 about 4.9 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 64 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 15, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 34 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 15, 2025.
Severe weather in Chippewa County since 1996
Chippewa County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| October 20, 2016 | Flood | DR-4288: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| June 18, 2004 | Severe Storm | DR-1526: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Chippewa County
Chippewa County had 26,613 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,189 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Lafayette itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Towns near Lafayette
- Lake Wissota, WI1.3 mi · 2,830 people · home $334,600
- Chippewa Falls, WI5.0 mi · 14,731 people · home $210,400
- Seymour, WI5.9 mi · 3,352 people · home $320,200
- Lake Hallie, WI6.2 mi · 7,170 people · home $292,100
- Altoona, WI10.3 mi · 8,293 people · home $233,100
- Eagle Point, WI10.5 mi · 3,237 people · home $371,700
- Eau Claire, WI11.6 mi · 69,421 people · home $247,600
- Washington, WI12.6 mi · 7,662 people · home $367,300
Lafayette questions
Is Lafayette, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lafayette scores better for retirees than 89% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 17%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.3).
How much does a house cost in Lafayette?
The median owner-occupied home in Lafayette is valued at $353,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $101,651, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $1,192 a month.
What is the weather like in Lafayette?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 5.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 33.0 inches of precipitation a year and 52.2 inches of snow.
Does Lafayette get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lafayette since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 4, 1958. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- 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)