Population 33,115 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lafayette County
Household size in Lafayette County
| Period | Lafayette County | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.44 | 2.57 | 2.49 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.48 | 2.60 | 2.52 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.45 | 2.59 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.62 | 2.55 | 2.49 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.19 | −0.02 | −0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Lafayette County average 2.62 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.44, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the northeast and smallest in the southeast.
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 County
| Period | Lafayette County | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.1 | 37.5 | 38.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.2 | 37.9 | 39.2 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.0 | 38.8 | 40.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.8 | 39.2 | 40.1 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.6 | +1.7 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
Lafayette County skews a little older than the country: its median age is 41.8, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.1, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the northeast, the oldest in the west.
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 County
| Period | Lafayette County | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 11.7% | 11.3% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 11.9% | 11.4% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 11.2% | 10.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.4% | 10.9% | 11.0% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.7 pts | −0.8 pts | −0.3 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Lafayette County: 8.4% of households, against 11.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 2.7 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 County
Renters in Lafayette County
| Period | Lafayette County | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.0% | 31.2% | 30.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 23.3% | 33.7% | 32.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.2% | 34.9% | 33.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 24.3% | 34.2% | 31.9% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | +3.0 pts | +1.9 pts | +1.5 pts |
Lafayette County is largely a place of homeowners: only 24.3% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 45.7% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has fallen 1.8 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
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 County
| Period | Lafayette County | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 10.0% | 11.6% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.3% | 9.7% | 12.0% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.8% | 9.0% | 12.2% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 11.2% | 7.5% | 10.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.5 pts | −2.5 pts | −1.1 pts | −1.8 pts |
A few more homes sit empty in Lafayette County than nationally: 11.2%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Since 2006–10, vacancy has edged up 1.5 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 County
| Period | Lafayette County | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1976 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1977 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1974 | 1977 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1977 | 1980 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Lafayette County are about the same age as the nation's housing: the median home was built in 1977, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1970 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the northeast.
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 County
| Period | Lafayette County | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $567 | $897 | $740 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $699 | $980 | $816 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $712 | $1,095 | $899 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $969 | $1,395 | $1,122 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$403 | +$498 | +$383 | +$606 |
The median renter in Lafayette County pays $969 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $403 a month from 2006–10, a 71% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 26.7% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the center and lowest 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 County
Bachelor's degrees in Lafayette County
| Period | Lafayette County | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.0% | 33.5% | 26.0% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.9% | 34.1% | 27.3% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.4% | 37.1% | 29.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.6% | 39.7% | 32.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.6 pts | +6.2 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Lafayette County than nationally: 26.6% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 10.6 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Compared with other Missouri counties, though, Lafayette County has a higher share of college graduates than most.
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 County
| Period | Lafayette County | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.8% | 90.5% | 86.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.3% | 90.9% | 88.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.9% | 91.8% | 90.0% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.4% | 92.9% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +6.6 pts | +2.4 pts | +5.1 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Lafayette County have finished high school (92.4%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 6.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Lafayette County has a higher share of high school graduates than the great majority of Missouri counties.
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 County
| Period | Lafayette County | Kansas City area | Missouri | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.1% | 6.8% | 7.4% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 7.6% | 8.4% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 4.0% | 4.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 4.0% | 4.1% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −2.9 pts | −3.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Lafayette County has been strong: just 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 0.9 points, a smaller shift than nationally. 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 County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette County | 2.62 | 41.8 | 8.4% | 24.3% | 11.2% | 1977 | $969 | 26.6% | 92.4% | 3.2% |
| Jackson County | 2.42 | 38.5 | 12.8% | 40.9% | 9.1% | 1971 | $1,337 | 33.3% | 91.3% | 4.6% |
| Saline County | 2.69 | 35.7 | 10.6% | 30.2% | 18.0% | 1969 | $818 | 24.5% | 86.4% | 3.2% |
| Wyandotte County | 2.83 | 35.5 | 16.4% | 38.0% | 10.8% | 1964 | $1,241 | 21.3% | 81.3% | 5.8% |
| Johnson County | 2.57 | 39.9 | 7.6% | 31.5% | 5.2% | 1988 | $1,613 | 57.6% | 96.5% | 3.1% |
| Cooper County | 2.50 | 41.6 | 10.0% | 24.3% | 14.3% | 1973 | $783 | 24.8% | 90.6% | 4.2% |
| Howard County | 2.62 | 39.0 | 9.2% | 21.3% | 18.1% | 1974 | $816 | 27.9% | 90.9% | 3.6% |
| Douglas County | 2.26 | 35.2 | 7.6% | 49.9% | 8.6% | 1983 | $1,161 | 51.9% | 95.8% | 4.5% |
| Boone County | 2.39 | 35.5 | 9.4% | 42.3% | 6.9% | 1991 | $1,131 | 52.0% | 95.0% | 4.1% |
| Shawnee County | 2.36 | 40.6 | 12.1% | 33.2% | 8.2% | 1972 | $1,100 | 31.1% | 92.7% | 4.3% |
| Wabaunsee County | 2.62 | 43.9 | 5.8% | 18.9% | 13.8% | 1962 | $917 | 26.2% | 95.9% | 4.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Orange County, VA · Morgan County, IL · Morovis Municipio, PR · Morrison County, MN · Morrow County, OH · Naranjito Municipio, PR · Neshoba County, MS · Nicholas County, WV · Ohio County, KY · Montrose County, CO
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 County. 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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