St. John's Cathedral (Boundary Increase) was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Jan 25, 2024. It is significant for its architecture at the local level.

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28 on the National Register · #5 in LAHistoric places →

Know Lafayette

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About Lafayette

Consolidated city-parish in Louisiana, United States

1821Established

121,374Population

53.9 sq miArea

36 ftElevation

Lafayette ( LA(H)-fee-YET, French: [lafajɛt]) is a city in Louisiana and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish. It is located along the Vermilion River. It is Louisiana's fourth-most populous city with a 2020 census population of 121,374; the consolidated city-parish's population was 241,753 in 2020. The Lafayette metropolitan area was Louisiana's third largest metropolitan statistical area with a population of 478,384 at the 2020 census. The Acadiana region containing Lafayette is the largest population and economic corridor between Houston, Texas and New Orleans. Originally established as Vermilionville in the 1820s and incorporated in 1836, Lafayette developed as an agricultural community …

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Lafayette ranks

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#8Lowest obesity in LA #9Most educated in LA #17Most active in LA All LA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code70501, 70502, 70503

Area code337

Living in Lafayette

Housing in Lafayette

$227K▲ 2% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Lafayette home is worth about $227,000, up 2% in a year, close to the Louisiana typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market43

Sale-to-list97.6%

Sold in May137

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Lafayette

D⁻

Safety Grade D-

Lafayette reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 98% report less.

Violent crime per 1,000

Lafayette 11.3

Louisiana 4.7

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Lafayette 34.5

Louisiana 18.6

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Lafayette

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53% of Lafayette’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Baton Rouge (4%), Broussard (4%) and Scott (2%). Half commute less than 5 miles.

Baton Rouge

Broussard

Scott

Youngsville

53%Work in townlive and work in Lafayette 5 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 92,462Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Lafayette →

Health in Lafayette

C⁺

Health Grade C+

Healthier than 39% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 58% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Louisiana

3better than LA

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 29 are too close to call.

Conditions 2▲ 10 close Habits 1▲ 3 close Care all close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

25.5%Fewer adults who get no exerciseLA 30.3% · better 34.5%Fewer adults with obesityLA 40% · better

Care nearby

Ochsner Lafayette General Medical CenterLafayette · 0.7 mi · ER

Surrey Street Community Health CenterLafayette · 2.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

5 hospitals · 4 health centers in Lafayette →

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Lafayette · CMS · HRSAHealth in Lafayette →

Natural hazards in Lafayette

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 89% of U.S. communities.

🌀 Hurricanes🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves

1,913Does Lafayette flood?paid flood claims since 1978 10Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Lafayette MapLafayette vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Lafayette →

Climate in Lafayette

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Lafayette has warm winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 91°, a January night drops to 42°, and snow is almost unheard of.

64° / 44°Winter

79° / 59°Spring

91° / 73°Summer

80° / 59°Fall

How much snow does Lafayette get?Almost none.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Dec 4, with the last in spring around Feb 13.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.8° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Lafayette →

Schools in Lafayette

All Lafayette schools →

A⁻

School Grade A-

The public schools Lafayette’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 81% of Louisiana’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

#44Best public schoolsof 153 in LA

DistrictLafayette ParishSchools38

J. Wallace James Elementary School A-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 957 students Woodvale Elementary School AElementary · Grades PK–5 · 793 students Broadmoor Elementary School AElementary · Grades PK–5 · 749 students Prairie Elementary School A-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 663 students S.J. Montgomery Elementary School C+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 663 students Willow Charter Academy DElementary · Grades K–8 · 605 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within LA. Ratings are from neighbors.

Lafayette is a college town

Colleges →

of Lafayette’s residents are enrolled in college. University of Louisiana at Lafayette has about 13,378 students on campus, and 3 more colleges are in town.

87%How hard to get in?admission rate $13,530What does it cost?net price a year 53%Do students finish?graduation rate

College Scorecard · IPEDSColleges in Lafayette →