The Lafayette metro is home to 410,883 people (down 16.0% over five years), with a median household income of $60,910. Typical rent of $1,385/month works out to 27.3% 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 | 25.4% |
| Retail trade | 12.1% |
| Professional & management | 10.0% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 8.4% |
| Construction | 7.9% |
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 27.3% 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 $1,385/month suggests a household income around $55,000/year. The metro's median household income is $60,910.
By workforce share: Education & health care (25.4%), Retail trade (12.1%), Professional & management (10.0%) (Census ACS 5-year).