Lafayette Parish, Louisiana Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Lafayette Parish is located in Louisiana with a total population of 245,075. It is the 5th most populous county out of 64 in Louisiana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lafayette Parish is 36.4 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 37.8 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Lafayette Parish is $67,660. This is 13% higher than the state median of $60,023. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 14% lower. The poverty rate stands at 17.4%. This is 8% lower than the state poverty rate of 18.9%. The unemployment rate is 5.0%. This is 20% lower than the state rate of 6.3%. The median home value is $234,200. Housing costs are 12% higher than the state median of $208,700. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.5x. 66.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% lower than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Lafayette Parish is White (non-Hispanic), making up 62.5% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 25.3%.

Education

34.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Lafayette Parish in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 31% higher than the state rate of 26.6%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.9%.