Smart Movers Club

    Moving to Lafayette, LA

    Is Lafayette a good place to live?

    Watch Lafayette

    Lafayette ranks #4 of 18 Louisiana cities with 25,000+ people on the Smart Movers livability score (69/100), which weighs home affordability, unemployment, education and population growth. Population fell 0.1% in the latest Census year.

    Median home value
    $251,300
    +7.0% vs prior year
    Median rent
    $1,065
    per month
    Household income
    $61,454
    median
    Unemployment
    5.1%
    lower is better

    Cost of living in Lafayette

    The median home value in Lafayette is $251,300 and median rent is $1,065 a month, against a median household income of $61,454. Homes cost about 4.1× a year of income (under 3× is considered affordable).

    Lafayette crime rate

    City-level FBI figures vary by agency; across Louisiana the 2025 rate was 465 violent and 1,859 property crimes per 100,000 people — #7 highest of 50 states. The full report breaks down local trends.

    Moving to Lafayette, LA

    Lafayette has about 121,537 residents, 5.1% unemployment and 27% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher.

    Compare Lafayette with

    Lafayette vs New OrleansLafayette vs Baton RougeLafayette vs ShreveportLafayette vs MetairieLafayette vs Lake CharlesLafayette vs KennerLafayette vs Bossier CityLafayette vs Monroe

    More: Where to move in Louisiana · Best counties in Louisiana

    Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates (2023, compared with 2022); FBI Crime Data Explorer.

    Home listings, local news, migration, schools, resources and the Smart Movers Grade & Verdict.

    See the full Smart Movers Club report