Lafayette, CA

Census place 0639122 · pop 25,285

D56/ 100
😐 Meh
A
in CA
📍 California ranks #49 of 50 states →
🏆 Uninsured3.1% · top 1%
🚽 Cost$2,000,001 · bottom 1%
Taxes
0.50% property · US 0.99%8.99% sales · US 7.00%up to 13.30% income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Housing cost$2,000,0010

U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities

$2,000,001 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Rent$4,205/mo2

U.S. median $1,756/mo · worse than most cities

$4,205/mo typical rent · Typical monthly rent (Zillow Observed Rent Index, all home types).

Natural disaster riskCounty-level100/1009

U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities

100/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Population growth (5yr)-3.9%11

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-3.9% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Commute time29 min19

U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities

29 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Unemployment rateCounty-level4.4%24

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

4.4% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Income inequality0.4724

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.47 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Air quality (AQI)County-level48 AQI29

U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities

48 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Property crime rate1271/100k51

U.S. median 964/100k · better than most cities

1271 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Violent crime rate84/100k76

U.S. median 152/100k · better than most cities

84 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Homeownership77.1%81

U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities

77.1% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Unhealthy air daysCounty-level0 days85

U.S. median 1 days · better than most cities

0 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Property-tax burden0.50%91

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.50% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Adult obesity24.6%92

U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities

24.6% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Poor mental health12.8%94

U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities

12.8% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Physical inactivity15.7%94

U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities

15.7% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Poverty rate2.9%96

U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities

2.9% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Broadband access98.5%98

U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities

98.5% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Bachelor's degree or higher79.0%99

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

79.0% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Adult smoking6.1%99

U.S. median 14.6% · better than most cities

6.1% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Median household income$228,25099

U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities

$228,250 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Uninsured adults3.1%99

U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities

3.1% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Frequently asked

Is Lafayette, CA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Lafayette scores 56/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 22 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is uninsured adults and its weakest is housing cost. California overall ranks #49 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
How safe is Lafayette, CA?
Lafayette reports 84 violent crimes per 100k and 1271 property crimes per 100k — better than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Lafayette, CA expensive to live in?
Lafayette has a median home value of $2,000,001 and typical rent around $4,205/mo — pricier than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Lafayette, CA?
Its weakest measured area is housing cost ($2,000,001) — 0/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Lafayette, CA best at?
Its strongest measured area is uninsured adults (3.1%) — 99/100, better than most U.S. cities.

Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.