West Lafayette, Indiana
Among the top 4% of US places for getting around.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 49% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade C, better than 45% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 35% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade A+, better than 97% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 40% of US places
- top 3% for walkability
- top 3% for commute time
- bottom 5% for sunny days
West Lafayette is a mid-size city in Indiana with about 45,000 residents. It grades A+ for getting around and C for safety & wellbeing. Standout strengths include walkability, commute time, and comfortable days. It rates lower on estimated total tax burden and sunny days.
Official websitecity.west-lafayette.in.us (opens in new tab)
Climate
Warm summers · Cold winters · Moderate rain · Snowy
very cold
cold
cool
comf.
warm
cool
cold
v.cold
63%32%clearovercast
Precipitation 4.4 in3.0 in
humid 99%dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$30k4th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$43kbetter than 80% of US places
Home Value$303k78th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 36% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$2kbetter than 28% of US places
Property Tax Rate0.88%better than 57% of US places
Income Tax5.20%better than 43% of US places
State 3.20% + Local 2.00%
Sales Tax7.00%better than 60% of US places
Estimated total tax burden16.36%better than 13% of US places
Unemployment3.3%better than 56% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)26°F27th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)74°F37th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation42.9 in54th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall18.9 inbetter than 48% of US places
Sunny Days168 daysbetter than 5% of US places
Summer Humidity65°Fbetter than 45% of US places
Comfortable Days102 daysbetter than 89% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk47.7better than 74% of US places
Air Quality50 AQIbetter than 24% of US places
School Quality44.9better than 25% of US places
Violent Crime704/100kbetter than 51% of US places
Property Crime1020/100kbetter than 47% of US places
Community
Population44,86197th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age21.42nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.4881st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.2485th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningEven29th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)66.5%28th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)3.6%73rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)4.9%56th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)21.0%98th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)3.9%62nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time15 minbetter than 97% of US places
Walkability14.1/20better than 97% of US places
Airport Distance60 mibetter than 61% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access88.8%better than 60% of US places
Amenities Nearby52.38better than 40% of US places
Park & Nature AccessModeratebetter than 38% of US places
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is West Lafayette an affordable place to live?
- West Lafayette is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $43k, better than 80% of comparable areas.
- What is the median home value in West Lafayette?
- The median home value in West Lafayette is $303k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- What is the median household income in West Lafayette?
- Median household income in West Lafayette is $30k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- How much is rent in West Lafayette?
- Median gross rent in West Lafayette is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Is West Lafayette safe?
- West Lafayette is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 704/100k (better than 51%). Property crime is 1020/100k.
- What is the weather like in West Lafayette?
- West Lafayette averages 74°F in July and 26°F in January, with 42.9 in of annual precipitation and about 168 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in West Lafayette?
- Public-school quality in West Lafayette is below average, scoring better than 25% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in West Lafayette?
- The average one-way commute in West Lafayette is 15 min.
Other places in Tippecanoe County
Places near West Lafayette
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Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)