5th most populous of 64
With 254,241 residents in 2024, Lafayette Parish ranks 5th by population among Louisiana's 64 counties and is home to 5.5% of the state's residents.
Lafayette Parish is home to 254,241 people (2024 estimate) on 269 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.
Key indicators
Population
254,241
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
241,759
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+5.2%
2020–2024
Land area
269 mi²
696 km²
Population density
945.7 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
3,195
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
1,987
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+1,208
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+2,536
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$69,524
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$19.8 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$67,451
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
17.1%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
35.3%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
5.2%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$242,900
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
3.5%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–2024254,241▲ 33%
U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate | 254,241 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 221,578 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 190,516 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +33.4% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +1,417 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | +1,119 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 12.6 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 7.8 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in Louisiana | 5th of 64 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $69,524 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $19.8 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $67,451 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 17.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 35.3% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 5.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $242,900 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $1,057/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 36.5 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 100,903 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 65.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Lafayette Parish in context
Comparable indicators for Lafayette Parish, Louisiana and the United States.
| Indicator | County | Louisiana | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | +5.2% | −1.3% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 12.6 | 11.7 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 7.8 | 10.8 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | 10.0 | 1.2 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 945.7 | 106.4 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $69,524 | $61,897 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $67,451 | $60,756 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 17.1% | 18.9% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 35.3% | 27.0% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 5.2% | 4.9% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $242,900 | $216,500 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $1,057/month | $1,064/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 36.5 years | 38.0 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 65.5% | 67.4% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Cities & towns
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Did you know? Lafayette Parish
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 190,516 in 2000 to 254,241 in 2024, a change of +33.4%, compared with +2.8% for Louisiana as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 3,195 births and 1,987 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 1,208.
Record population
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population in 2024, at 254,241.
4th in density
Lafayette Parish has about 945.7 residents per square mile of land, ranking 4th of 64 counties; Louisiana averages 106.4.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $67,451 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 13th of 64 Louisiana counties; the state median is $60,756.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $19.8 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 4th largest among 64 Louisiana counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP grew 2.7% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — County population totals and components, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau — County estimates 2010–2020
- U.S. Census Bureau — Intercensal estimates 2000–2010
- U.S. Census Bureau — Gazetteer files (land area)
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional economic accounts
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — LAUS