Lafayette, LA

Census Place

Add Comparison

2020 Population

126,674

0.00632% 1-year growth

US Senator

Bill Cassidy

Republican Party

US Senator

John Kennedy

Republican Party

2020 Median Age

36.4

1.68% 1-year increase

2018 Poverty Rate

19.4%

1.22% 1-year increase

2020 Median Household Income

$54,139

5.61% 1-year growth

2020 Median Property Value

$197,900

1.28% 1-year growth

2020 Employed Population

61,984

1.55% 1-year decline

About

In 2020, Lafayette, LA had a population of 127k people with a median age of 36.4 and a median household income of $54,139. Between 2019 and 2020 the population of Lafayette, LA grew from 126,666 to 126,674, a 0.00632% increase and its median household income grew from $51,264 to $54,139, a 5.61% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Lafayette, LA are White (Non-Hispanic) (60.7%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (30.4%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.38%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (2.29%), and White (Hispanic) (2.09%).

None of the households in Lafayette, LA reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

97.1% of the residents in Lafayette, LA are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Lafayette, LA are University of Louisiana at Lafayette (3,653 degrees awarded in 2020), South Louisiana Community College (2,229 degrees), and Infinity College (284 degrees).

In 2020, the median property value in Lafayette, LA was $197,900, and the homeownership rate was 58.4%.

Most people in Lafayette, LA drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 20.7 minutes. The average car ownership in Lafayette, LA was 2 cars per household.

About the photo: Photo taken at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus.

Photo by Abbie Judice

Population & Diversity

Lafayette, LA is home to a population of 127k people, from which 97.1% are citizens. As of 2018, 4.55% of Lafayette, LA residents were born outside of the country (5.76k people).

In 2020, there were 1.99 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (76.9k people) in Lafayette, LA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 38.5k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) and 3.02k Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

97.1%

2020 Citizenship

97.1%

2019 Citizenship

As of 2020, 97.1% of Lafayette, LA residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.4%. In 2019, the percentage of US citizens in Lafayette, LA was 97.1%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been decreasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Lafayette, LA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Lafayette, LA

White (Non-Hispanic)
76.9k ± 2.02k
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
38.5k ± 1.96k
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
3.02k ± 718

3.7%

Hispanic Population

4.69k people

3.7% of the people in Lafayette, LA are hispanic (4.69k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Lafayette, LA as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Louisiana.

Most Common Origin

Honduras
32,181 ± 4,389 people
Mexico
26,555 ± 3,989 people
Vietnam
18,801 ± 3,360 people

In 2020, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Louisiana was Honduras, the natal country of 32,181 Louisiana residents, followed by Mexico with 26,555 and Vietnam with 18,801.

Foreign-Born Population

4.55%

2018 Foreign-Born Population

5.76k people

4.91%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

6.21k people

As of 2018, 4.55% of Lafayette, LA residents (5.76k people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.5%. In 2017, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Lafayette, LA was 4.91%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Lafayette, LA compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
1,860 ± 326
Gulf War (2001-)
1,512 ± 497
Gulf War (1990s)
888 ± 260

Lafayette, LA has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.23 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of Lafayette, LA employs 62k people. The largest industries in Lafayette, LA are Health Care & Social Assistance (10,280 people), Educational Services (7,428 people), and Retail Trade (7,194 people), and the highest paying industries are Management of Companies & Enterprises ($250,001), Finance & Insurance ($71,635), and Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($69,522).

Males in Louisiana have an average income that is 1.53 times higher than the average income of females, which is $43,885. The income inequality in Louisiana (measured using the Gini index) is 0.465, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

62k

2020 Value

± 2,557

−1.55%

1 Year decline

± 5.36%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Lafayette, LA declined at a rate of −1.55%, from 63k employees to 62k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Lafayette, LA, are Sales & Related Occupations (8,514 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (7,075 people), and Education Instruction, & Library Occupations (5,601 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Lafayette, LA.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Louisiana.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Louisiana (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

62k

2020 Value

± 2,557

−1.55%

1 Year decline

± 5.36%

From 2019 to 2020, employment in Lafayette, LA declined at a rate of −1.55%, from 63k employees to 62k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Lafayette, LA, are Health Care & Social Assistance (10,280 people), Educational Services (7,428 people), and Retail Trade (7,194 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Lafayette, LA, though some of these residents may live in Lafayette, LA and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$44,284

Median earning men ± $4,049

$28,390

Median earning women ± $1,846

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2020 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($73,125), Professional, Scientific, & Management, & Administrative & Waste Management Services ($65,826), and Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, & Mining ($63,691).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2020 are Public Administration ($49,417), Manufacturing ($48,378), and Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($46,792).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Louisiana.

Y-Axis

8.45%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between May 2020 and May 2021

As of May 2021, there are 145M people employed in Louisiana. This represents a 8.45% increase in employment when compared to May 2020.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Louisiana.

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Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Louisiana to other states, or from other states to Louisiana.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

Gasoline
$49.3B
Fuel oils
$48.1B
Coal-n.e.c.
$37.7B

In 2020, the top outbound Louisiana product (by dollars) was Gasoline with $49.3B, followed by Fuel oils ($48.1B) and Coal-n.e.c. ($37.7B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Louisiana products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Louisiana.

$380B

2020 Value in Louisiana

$689B

Projected 2050 Value in Louisiana

81% growth

In 2020, total outbound Louisiana trade was $380B. This is expected to increase 81% to $689B by 2050.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Louisiana trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Louisiana to other states, or from other states to Louisiana.

Most Common Trade Partners

Texas
$43.9B
Mississippi
$24.1B
Illinois
$7.47B

In 2020, the top outbound Louisiana domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was Texas with $43.9B, followed by Mississippi with $24.1B and Illinois and $7.47B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Louisiana shares with each state (excluding itself).

Civics

Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy are the senators currently representing the state of Louisiana. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Louisiana is currently represented by 6 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Senators Elections

US Senators from Louisiana

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Louisiana.

Bill Cassidy

Senator from Louisiana

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

John Kennedy

Senator from Louisiana

Assumed office on January 3, 2017

Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy are the senators currently representing Louisiana.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Louisiana over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representatives Elections

US Representatives from Louisiana

Louisiana is currently represented by 6 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Louisiana have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2020, universities in Lafayette, LA awarded 7,089 degrees. The student population of Lafayette, LA in 2020 is skewed towards women, with 9,575 male students and 14,345 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Lafayette, LA are White (4,192 and 60.2%), followed by Black or African American (1,930 and 27.7%), Hispanic or Latino (315 and 4.53%), and Unknown (212 and 3.05%).

The largest universities in Lafayette, LA by number of degrees awarded are University of Louisiana at Lafayette (3,653 and 51.5%), South Louisiana Community College (2,229 and 31.4%), and Infinity College (284 and 4.01%).

The most popular majors in Lafayette, LA are General Studies (948 and 13.4%), Registered Nursing (524 and 7.39%), and General Business Administration & Management (426 and 6.01%).

The median tuition cost in Lafayette, LA for a public four year colleges is $5,407 for in-state students and $19,135 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2020 in Lafayette, LA, the percentage of applicants admitted was 67.5%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 35.4%. The number of students enrolled in 2020 was 23,920 (40% men and 60% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2020 there were 23,920 students enrolled in Lafayette, LA, 40% men and 60% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 13,758 records, of which 57% were women and 43% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

General Business Administration & Management
144 degree-majors awarded
Registered Nursing
462 degree-majors awarded
General Studies
325 degree-majors awarded

In 2020, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Lafayette, LA was General Business Administration & Management with 144 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Lafayette, LA according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

University of Louisiana at Lafayette
3,653 degrees awarded
South Louisiana Community College
2,229 degrees awarded
Infinity College
284 degrees awarded

In 2020, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was University of Louisiana at Lafayette with 3,653 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2020, 2,877 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Lafayette, LA, which is 0.683 times less than the 4,212 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2020 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 4,192 degrees mean that there were 2.17 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Black or African American, with 1,930 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Private not-for-profit, 2-year ($18,576) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2020.

Public, 4-year or above ($4,951) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2020.

Public, 2-year ($1,300) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Louisiana.

Measure

In 2020, 0.829% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.761% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Louisiana.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2020 were High School or Equivalent (1.21M), Some college (825k), and Secondary Education (634k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Lafayette, LA was $197,900 in 2020, which is 0.861 times smaller than the national average of $229,800. Between 2019 and 2020 the median property value increased from $195,400 to $197,900, a 1.28% increase. The homeownership rate in Lafayette, LA is 58.4%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 64.4%.

People in Lafayette, LA have an average commute time of 20.7 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Lafayette, LA is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in Lafayette, LA is $54,139. In 2020, the place with the highest median household income in Lafayette, LA was Census Tract 16 with a value of $116,550, followed by Census Tract 10.03 and Census Tract 17, with respective values of $83,125 and $77,795.

Housing

Property

$197,900

Median Property Value 2020

±$6,367

$29,364

Median Property Taxes

±$1,532

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Lafayette, LA the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Lafayette, LA compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

58.4%

Homeownership

2020

68.3%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2020

In 2020, 58.4% of the housing units in Lafayette, LA were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 56.6%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Lafayette, LA compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 16
Census Tract 10.03
Census Tract 17

In 2020, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Lafayette, LA was Census Tract 16 with a value of $116,550, followed by Census Tract 10.03 and Census Tract 17, with respective values of $83,125 and $77,795.

The following map shows all of the places in Lafayette, LA colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$54,139

Median Household Income

± $3,359

50.3k

Number of Households

± 2,173

In 2020, the median household income of the 50.3k households in Lafayette, LA grew to $54,139 from the previous year's value of $51,264.

The following chart displays the households in Lafayette, LA distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Lafayette, LA is from Louisiana.

0.465

2020 Wage GINI in Louisiana

0.467

2019 Wage GINI in Louisiana

In 2020, the income inequality in Louisiana was 0.465 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.341% decline from 2019 to 2020, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Louisiana was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Louisiana in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Louisiana across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2020

Drove Alone (83.1%)
Worked At Home (6.44%)
Carpooled (5.06%)

In 2020, 83.1% of workers in Lafayette, LA drove alone to work, followed by those who worked at home (6.44%) and those who carpooled to work (5.06%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

20.7 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Lafayette, LA have a shorter commute time (20.7 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.9 minutes). Additionally, 2.61% of the workforce in Lafayette, LA have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Lafayette, LA compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Lafayette, LA distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Lafayette, LA have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

19.4% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Lafayette, LA (23.6k out of 122k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.8%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Males 18 - 24 and then Females 25 - 34.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Lafayette, LA is Black, followed by White and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

91.7% of the population of Lafayette, LA has health coverage, with 46.2% on employee plans, 18.8% on Medicaid, 11.2% on Medicare, 13.6% on non-group plans, and 1.92% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in Louisiana was $7,815 in 2014. This is a 4.38% increase from the previous year ($7,487).

Primary care physicians in Lafayette Parish, LA see 899 patients per year on average, which represents a 4.77% decrease from the previous year (944 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1455 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 275 patients per year.

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for Louisiana. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

Y-Axis

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in Louisiana, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Lafayette Parish, LA.

899 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Lafayette Parish, LA

Primary care physicians in Lafayette Parish, LA see an average of 899 patients per year. This represents a 4.77% decrease from the previous year (944 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Lafayette Parish, LA in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Community Mobility

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Louisiana.

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of Louisiana across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2020, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 22.6% under 18 years, 25.3% between 18 and 34 years, 36.8% between 35 and 64 years, and 15.2% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.7% were men and 52.3% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

8.33%

Uninsured

46.2%

Employer Coverage

18.8%

Medicaid

11.2%

Medicare

13.6%

Non-Group

1.92%

Military or VA

Between 2019 and 2020, the percent of uninsured citizens in Lafayette, LA declined by 4.43% from 8.72% to 8.33%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Lafayette, LA changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.