West Lafayette city, Indiana Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

West Lafayette city is a mid-sized community located in Indiana. The total population is 44,802. It ranks as the 23rd most populous out of 967 cities and towns in Indiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in West Lafayette city is 21.4 years. This is 44% lower than the state median of 38.0 years. Only 8.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in West Lafayette city is $33,497. This is 52% lower than the state median of $70,051. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 57% lower. The poverty rate stands at 37.4%. This is 206% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.2%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 16% lower than the state rate of 4.3%. The median home value is $318,100. Housing costs are 58% higher than the state median of $201,600. The home-value-to-income ratio of 9.5x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 30.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 57% lower than the state average of 70.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in West Lafayette city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 66.4% of the population. Asian residents account for 20.3%. The Black or African American population (3.7%) is well below the state average of 9.1%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (20.3% vs 2.5%).

Education

71.2% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places West Lafayette city in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 147% higher than the state rate of 28.8%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 97.4%. Notably, 43.2% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for West Lafayette city, Indiana is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Indiana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 967 Census-designated places in Indiana. For official data, visit data.census.gov.