Population 25,396 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lafayette
Household size in Lafayette
| Period | Lafayette | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.64 | 2.74 | 3.04 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.68 | 2.79 | 3.10 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.77 | 2.83 | 3.09 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.66 | 2.75 | 3.01 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.01 | +0.01 | −0.03 | −0.03 |
At 2.66 people per household, Lafayette sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is smaller than in the San Francisco area overall, where it has 2.75 people. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the north.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Lafayette
| Period | Lafayette | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.7 | 38.6 | 35.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.7 | 39.4 | 36.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.8 | 40.1 | 37.9 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.5 | 41.3 | 39.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.8 | +2.7 | +3.1 | +2.3 |
Lafayette skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 43.7 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Lafayette
| Period | Lafayette | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 10.3% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.8% | 9.9% | 13.5% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.0% | 9.1% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 8.8% | 12.3% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −1.5 pts | −1.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.1% of households in Lafayette, well below the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share is down 0.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. Lafayette has a lower share of single-parent households than the great majority of California cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Lafayette
Renters in Lafayette
| Period | Lafayette | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.9% | 43.7% | 42.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 26.6% | 46.2% | 45.2% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.0% | 45.3% | 45.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.2% | 44.5% | 44.1% | 34.8% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +0.8 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Lafayette is largely a place of homeowners: only 23.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than a quarter of owners (27.3%) have paid off their mortgages, well below the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the southeast.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Lafayette
| Period | Lafayette | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.7% | 8.6% | 8.7% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 5.0% | 7.1% | 8.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.6% | 6.5% | 7.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 7.5% | 7.3% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 4.2% of homes in Lafayette are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged down 0.5 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Lafayette has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of California cities.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Lafayette
| Period | Lafayette | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1964 | 1972 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1963 | 1965 | 1973 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1966 | 1966 | 1974 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1968 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Change | +0 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Lafayette is a place of older homes: half were built before 1964, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Lafayette has older homes than the great majority of California cities.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Lafayette
| Period | Lafayette | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,693 | $1,452 | $1,298 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,713 | $1,551 | $1,379 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,613 | $2,139 | $1,721 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $3,100 | $2,666 | $2,229 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,407 | +$1,214 | +$931 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Lafayette costs $3,100 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $1,407 a month since 2006–10, up 83%, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 26.6% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the center; the highest are in the north.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Lafayette
Bachelor's degrees in Lafayette
| Period | Lafayette | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 68.3% | 42.5% | 29.1% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 69.6% | 44.1% | 30.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 72.5% | 48.9% | 32.9% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 78.8% | 52.2% | 36.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.5 pts | +9.7 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
Lafayette is highly educated: about eight in ten adults 25 and older (78.8%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 10.5 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only 19 have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Lafayette
| Period | Lafayette | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 96.4% | 86.8% | 79.9% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 97.8% | 87.5% | 80.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.6% | 88.8% | 82.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 99.0% | 89.1% | 84.2% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +2.3 pts | +4.3 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Lafayette: 99.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.6 points, in line with the national trend. Of the 689 California cities with 5,000+ people, only seven have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Lafayette
| Period | Lafayette | San Francisco area | California | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.5% | 7.8% | 9.2% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.6% | 8.9% | 11.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.8% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 5.8% | 6.6% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.6 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.6 pts | −2.7 pts |
At 4.9%, unemployment in Lafayette is close to the national rate of 5.4%. The rate is lower than in the San Francisco area overall (5.8%). Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Lafayette compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | 2.66 | 45.5 | 6.1% | 23.2% | 4.2% | 1964 | $3,100 | 78.8% | 99.0% | 4.9% |
| Reliez Valley | 2.91 | 48.5 | 6.2% | 5.3% | 1.8% | 1970 | $3,468 | 80.8% | 98.9% | 3.9% |
| Walnut Creek | 2.27 | 46.2 | 5.2% | 38.1% | 3.8% | 1973 | $2,772 | 70.6% | 97.2% | 5.5% |
| Castle Hill | 2.68 | 45.7 | 6.6% | 5.1% | 3.0% | 1966 | $3,501 | 87.1% | 100.0% | 0.0% |
| Moraga | 2.77 | 41.2 | 4.8% | 15.9% | 5.0% | 1972 | $3,154 | 80.6% | 98.6% | 6.5% |
| Orinda | 2.74 | 48.0 | 4.7% | 10.1% | 3.5% | 1965 | $2,489 | 84.9% | 98.2% | 3.6% |
| Pleasant Hill | 2.57 | 43.3 | 10.3% | 37.7% | 7.4% | 1970 | $2,742 | 52.0% | 95.2% | 5.0% |
| Canyon | 2.39 | 44.2 | 4.8% | 7.0% | 4.1% | 1970 | $3,267 | 83.1% | 98.9% | 3.9% |
| Alamo | 2.85 | 49.6 | 3.5% | 8.2% | 5.4% | 1977 | $3,501 | 75.8% | 97.9% | 3.6% |
| Orinda Village | 2.66 | 50.3 | 8.5% | 6.5% | 7.1% | 1989 | $3,347 | 76.0% | 97.7% | 4.0% |
| Martinez | 2.55 | 43.1 | 9.2% | 28.3% | 3.8% | 1972 | $2,555 | 42.5% | 93.1% | 6.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Denver, NC · Candler, NC · Carteret, NJ · Chanhassen, MN · Chapin, SC · Chelmsford, MA · Chevy Chase, MD · Westchase, FL · Waukee, IA · Watertown, WI
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Lafayette. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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