Lafayette, Louisiana, known as the "Heart of Cajun Country," is a city rich in culture, history, and Southern hospitality. Located in the southwestern part of the state, Lafayette offers a unique blend of French, Spanish, and Caribbean influences, reflected in its vibrant music, cuisine, and festivals. The city's lively atmosphere and welcoming community make living in Lafayette a great experience.
Residents of Lafayette enjoy a variety of cultural and recreational activities. The city is renowned for its music scene, particularly zydeco and Cajun music, which can be experienced at local venues and annual festivals like Festival International de Louisiane. Lafayette's food culture is equally celebrated, with a plethora of restaurants offering authentic Cajun and Creole dishes.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette contributes to the city's youthful and dynamic population. The presence of the university supports a range of cultural and sporting events, as well as educational and research opportunities. The Acadiana Center for the Arts and Vermilionville, a living history museum, are among the cultural highlights of the city.
Lafayette offers a range of housing options, from historic homes in charming neighborhoods to modern apartments and suburban developments. The cost of living is relatively affordable, making it an attractive option for families and young professionals. The local economy is supported by industries such as oil and gas, healthcare, and education.
Public transportation in Lafayette is provided by the Lafayette Transit System, which operates bus routes throughout the city. The city's warm, humid climate features hot summers and mild winters, allowing for year-round outdoor activities. Lafayette's blend of cultural richness, economic opportunity, and community spirit makes it a vibrant and inviting place to call home.
Cost Of Living
Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.
Housing
The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.
Health & Safety
Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.
Ratings
Local residents have positive feedback regarding the convenience of amenities, parks, public transit, the friendliness of neighbors, the strong sense of community, and the overall safety of the area.
Commute
Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.
Crime
High crime rates per 100,000 people are reported in this area, potentially indicating that it is an unsafe place to live. These statistics consider both violent and property offenses.
Lafayette is a moderately-sized city located in the state of Louisiana. The city has a population of 126,674 people. Lafayette is not known to have a high population (over 15 years old) of married people. At only 48% married, this city falls well below the national average. If you're not a fan of traffic congestion and long commute times to work, Lafayette is the place to be. Commutes to work here are shorter, with an average one-way commute time taking only 21 minutes, significantly lower than the national average of 26 minutes.
Are you trying to figure out if living in Lafayette is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a positive experience before moving to any new city in Louisiana, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. Finding the best places to live in Lafayette and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, crime, cost of living and other important metrics.
Lafayette, LA receives 71 out of 100 for its livability score; this results in a ranking of #26 in Louisiana and #5,387 in the USA. There are nine total categories that generate the livability score. Lafayette ranks well for cost of living (B+), education (B) and housing (B+) There is at least one category that did not score well in Lafayette. The following was graded with a concerning score: crime (F).
A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Lafayette excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.
There are many factors that go into deciding if an area is the right fit for your lifestyle. Certain “must haves” like low crime, great schools and nearby amenities are all at the top of most people's lists. But before even considering if those options are attainable, we'll need to know if the real estate in Lafayette is actually affordable. Median real estate prices in Lafayette come in at $197,900, which is 33.4% higher than the Louisiana average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Lafayette, the home price to income ratio is 3.7, which is 12.1% higher than the Louisiana average.
| Statistic | Lafayette | Louisiana | National |
| Average one way commute | 21min | 25min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 83.1% | 82.6% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 5.1% | 9.6% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 0.9% | 1.3% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.9% | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 2.3% | 1.8% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 6.4% | 2.6% | 4.6% |
Here are the best places to live in Louisiana
Most Dangerous Cities In The US
Check out the 10 most dangerous cities in Louisiana
See the best places to live in Lafayette