West Lafayette, Indiana Income Statistics
West Lafayette Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
F
West Lafayette Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | West Lafayette | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $32,903 | $71,967 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $55,061 | $55,757 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 2.0% | 4.5% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.8% | 10.2% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 8.1% | 8.2% | 13.2% |
The median household income in West Lafayette is about 54% lower than in Indiana. Income has been growing slower in West Lafayette (2.0%/yr) than in Indiana (4.5%/yr).
About 6% of adults in West Lafayette earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Indiana average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in West Lafayette, Indiana grew by 49.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $32,903 in 2024. That's an average of about 2.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in West Lafayette
| Metric | West Lafayette | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.723 | 0.534 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $56,047 | $65,086 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $59,698 | $51,220 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | -6.5% | 21.3% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In West Lafayette, it is 0.723, higher than Indiana's 0.534, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Women's income is about 7% more than men's income in West Lafayette, Indiana. Over a 35-year career, a 7% wage gap accumulates to roughly $127,785 in unearned income for male workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in West Lafayette, Indiana has narrowed from about 40% to -7% in 2024. Over that period the gap in 2023 women out-earned men by 9%. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $26,683 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | West Lafayette | Indiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5% | 4.3% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 14.3% | 10.7% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 983 people are unemployed in West Lafayette, Indiana.
The average commute time in West Lafayette is 15 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Indiana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in West Lafayette, Indiana has fallen from 8.6% to 4.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.1% in 2012 and fell as low as 3.3% in 2022.
West Lafayette, IN Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How West Lafayette, IN compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Lafayette, IN | 45,683 | $32,903 #2/2 | 2.0%/yr #2/2 | 4.5% #2/2 | 0.723 #2/2 |
| Lafayette, IN | 68,693 | $54,194 | 3.2%/yr | 3.6% | 0.493 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, West Lafayette, Indiana has an overall wealth index grade of F, making it worse than Indiana, and worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in West Lafayette, Indiana.
How Rich Is West Lafayette, Indiana?
West Lafayette has a wealth index grade of F. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an F grade means residents are well below the U.S. average. The median household income is $32,903, about 54% lower than the Indiana average of $71,967.
How has median household income changed in West Lafayette, Indiana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in West Lafayette, Indiana rose 49%, from $22,021 to $32,903. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Indiana as a whole: +49% against +52%.
What was the median household income in West Lafayette in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in West Lafayette, Indiana was $30,487, up 5% from $29,009 in 2022. The Indiana median that year was $70,115.
What was the median household income in West Lafayette in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in West Lafayette, Indiana was $28,357. By 2024 it had risen 16% to $32,903.
What is the Gini coefficient in West Lafayette, Indiana?
The Gini coefficient in West Lafayette is 0.723. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in West Lafayette, Indiana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in West Lafayette, Indiana has narrowed from about 40% to -7% in 2024. Over that period the gap in 2023 women out-earned men by 9%. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $26,683 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →