Lafayette, Indiana

Boilermakers

67,925

Population

Sunny Days: 205
44100 Affordability
85100 Schools
38100 Diversity
73100 Safety

Not gussied up or cute, Lafayette is a sturdy town, persistent in its character
-Author: Patricia Henley.

The Best Thing About Lafayette?

In A Family Way

Lafayette is a good place to raise a family. Home ownership and rentals alike are both affordable, with a diverse housing selection throughout the city and the greater metropolitan area. In addition, Lafayette County’s public school system is highly lauded, and there are plenty of parochial schools as well. Add into that an excellent public library, a high number of youth-oriented sports and recreation programs, a growing economy, and a low-ish crime rate, and you have all of the charms of a rural midwestern community combined with amenities of bigger cities that you typically get with college cities and you have a great spot for a young family.

Here's a pov from a local about raising a family in Lafayette:
I have lived in Lafayette my entire life (35) and have two children (5 and 3). It is a generally great area to live in. We live on the East side and while some of the crime stuff is true I think a lot of it is blown out of proportion by social media/instant news. The ease of access to literally anything you need while maintaining a somewhat small town feel is what keeps me here. The general cost of living is low even though the housing market has exploded like anywhere else. Imo there are far worse places to raise a family.

The Worst Thing About Lafayette?

Rivalry

The divide between Lafayette’s lifelong residents and its student population, which is mostly in West Lafayette, is fairly severe. While this is true of many college towns, and it is felt keenly in Lafayette due to the political divide between its more conservative native population and the more liberal and more ethnically diverse population of Purdue University. This in turn leads to arguments over the perception of town, with the student population often describing the crime rate as being greater than it is, and the lifelong residents greeting students with hostility. Please be aware of this before you make your move.

Here'a a pov on the pros/cons of Lafayette from a local: Crime isn't noticeably high and there are no areas that I feel unsafe driving through. The area is growing very fast and crime is a side effect, though. The growth rate also means housing is expensive, so give yourself time to look: lots of houses sell in 24 hours or less, and even rentals go quickly. Plenty of good parks and trails, though for bike/walking trails there is a lot more in W Lafayette than in Lafayette. It is true that this area is kind of flat and boring, but Lake Michigan isn't that far away and there are neat hidden gems like Turkey Run.

The only real downside I've found so far is that affordable acreage is hard to find. You pretty much have to settle about 30 minutes outside of town if you 1+ acres at less than $200K.

Lifestyle of Lafayette

Lafayette is, in many ways, a sleepy countryside town. Outdoor activities are the primary pastime, with canoeing, cycling, hunting, fishing, and gardening especially popular. Combined with the local love of Purdue’s athletics programs, you have a town that gathers together eagerly in spite of its differences for a basketball or football game. That being said, for those whom these activities hold no interest, there are more artistic options such as the Haan Mansion Museum of Indiana Art and the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra. And for those desiring bigger city options, Indianapolis and Chicago are within driving distance.

Check out the Lafayette calendar of events for a flavor of what goes on during the year: https://www.homeofpurdue.com/events/

Worklife of Lafayette

Lafayette is home to a diverse and growing economy. In addition to Purdue University and the Ivy Tech Community College providing work for academics, administrators, and facilities workers, numerous manufacturing operations, such as Arconic, Caterpillar Large Engine Division, and Subaru of Indiana Automotive employ thousands of workers. This in addition to Purdue’s esteemed engineering program and legacy of having produced multiple astronauts makes Lafayette an excellent home for scientists and engineers.

Why You Should Move Here Now

College Amenities / Small Town Prices

If you are a student, a scientist, a young family, or simply want a quaint farm town with bigger city amenities, Lafayette may prove an excellent option for you. In Lafayette you get the benefits of a college town without the prices of the pricier spots like Columbus or Ann Arbor.

Agents in Lafayette

Are you an agent in Lafayette? Get listed on LookyLoo!

Illustration of a man and a woman looking for the perfect place to live.Contact Us

Get your Movebook on!

Create a Movebook on LookyLoo to start organizing your move from the very start of your search.

Illustration of a man working through a relocation checklist.Get Started

Living in Lafayette

Neighborhoods in Lafayette

View All

Downtown

Young Professionals

Downtown is the place to live for young professionals looking to walk to work or walk to play at night. It's the heart of the entertainment district with a combination of cafes, bars, restaurants, live music, art galleries and theaters making weekends simple without a car. Living options include renovated loft spaces and modern apartment/condo buildings at much lower prices than other midwest college towns.

The architecture of downtown is historic 19th/early 20th century brick and stone but the food and drink culture is thoroughly modern. The neighborhood plays host to events throughout the year. These include outdoor festivals, farmers' markets, and holiday parties. They've also done a good job building public parks and green spaces so you can grab a java from a local cafe and relax in the sun if you prefer.