The Lafayette metro is home to 225,019 people (up 3.2% over five years), with a median household income of $59,895. Typical rent of $1,473/month works out to 29.5% of the median household income — near the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Lafayette's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 32.4% |
| Manufacturing | 19.0% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 9.2% |
| Retail trade | 9.0% |
| Professional & management | 7.8% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 29.5% of median income leave moderate headroom; underwrite rent growth conservatively. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Lafayette market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,473/month suggests a household income around $59,000/year. The metro's median household income is $59,895.
By workforce share: Education & health care (32.4%), Manufacturing (19.0%), Arts, food & hospitality (9.2%) (Census ACS 5-year).