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Lafayette, IN

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Lafayette, IN

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 46
Population70,650
Foreign Born7.1%
Population Density2,326people per mi²
Median Age33.7 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
StableSince 2010, this city has held a relatively stable population and racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B+
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

76/100

24% below national average

A+

The Real Cost of Living in Lafayette, Indiana

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $17k$31k
Comfortable $31k$45k
Luxury $83k+$129k+
Elite (Top 5%) $98k+$152k+
Affordability Ratio

118%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean82%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
37
Poor
10
Negative
11

Groceries

7 within 10 miles

0.5mi

Gas

20 within 10 miles

0.2mi

Hospital

5 within 20 miles

1.2mi

Airport

Indianapolis International Airport

55.7mi

Post Office

USPS — Lafayette, IN

1.4mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

1 private club within 10 miles.

Golf5Nearest 4.5 mi
Camping3Nearest 7.2 mi
Marina0 
Winery2Nearest 3.4 mi
Ice Rink0 
Gun Range0 

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C-
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$53k+4.5%
30% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$257k
61% below US avg
College Educated
28.1%
20% below US avg
WFH
7.5%
48% below US avg
Homeownership
47.6%
27% below US avg
Median Home
$158k
44% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
C+
Moderate

Crime rates similar to the national median for U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
20.5
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
+341.4%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr+330.7%
Homicide
0.03 / 1k Residents22% below state avg
Robbery
0.33 / 1k Residents46% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
2.57 / 1k Residents46% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr+352.1%
Burglary
1.07 / 1k Residents10% below state avg
Larceny-Theft
13.71 / 1k Residents97% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.79 / 1k Residents39% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+15Solidly Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Lafayette, Indiana
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
B-
Fair9.3% of income
Property Rights
B
GoodIJ Grade B
Firearm Rights
A
GreatFPC Grade A
Homeschooling
A+
GreatNo notice required

Energy independence: Importer (35% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
F
ProhibitedIllegal
Gambling Laws
A
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
F
ProhibitedIllegal

Homesteading

Growing Season190 days258 frost-free
Annual Rainfall41.4"
Elevation663 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
D
Poor110 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
D-
Poor2,326/sq mi
Fallout Danger
A
Good3 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorInland Flooding, Cold Wave, Tornado, Hail, Heat Wave
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 293 mi · coast 607 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$49.5M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityIndianapolis867k people are 57 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital57 miIndianapolis, IN
Nearest Prison25 mi1 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-22T10:29:40.000Z

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