Lafayette Parish, Louisiana Income Statistics
Lafayette Parish Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Lafayette Parish Below averageWealthier than 92% of counties in Louisiana
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Lafayette Parish | Louisiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $67,829 | $60,934 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $55,882 | $53,184 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.0% | 3.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 12.1% | 9.7% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.1% | 7.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Lafayette Parish is about 11% higher than in Louisiana. Income has been growing slower in Lafayette Parish (3.0%/yr) than in Louisiana (3.7%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Lafayette Parish earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Louisiana average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana grew by 46.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $67,829 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Lafayette Parish
| Metric | Lafayette Parish | Louisiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.559 | 0.574 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $68,957 | $65,171 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,891 | $47,031 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 29.1% | 27.8% | 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 Lafayette Parish, it is 0.559, lower than Louisiana's 0.574, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 41% more than women's income in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana. Over a 35-year career, a 41% wage gap accumulates to roughly $702,310 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana has narrowed from about 35% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 36% in 2014, and was narrowest at 28% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,509 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Lafayette Parish | Louisiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1% | 6.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 10.4% | 8.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 18 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 6,468 people are unemployed in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana.
The average commute time in Lafayette Parish is 18 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Louisiana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana has fallen from 5.8% to 5.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.5% in 2014 and fell as low as 4.8% in 2018.
Lafayette Parish, LA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Lafayette Parish, LA is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 247,982 residents against a local median of 57,123. The measure that sets Lafayette Parish, LA apart most is median household income: $67,829, 20% above the local median of $56,434. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 5.1% against a local median of 6.3%, 19% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Lafayette Parish, LA is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread $12,659 on median household income, so Lafayette Parish, LA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Lafayette Parish, LA has the highest median household income of the 6 areas compared here.
| 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette Parish, LA | 247,982 | $67,829 #1/6 | 3.0%/yr #3/6 | 5.1% #2/6 | 0.559 #2/6 |
| Acadia Parish, LA | 56,955 | $45,601 | 1.7%/yr | 7.7% | 0.578 |
| St. Landry Parish, LA | 81,670 | $44,313 | 4.4%/yr | 6.3% | 0.580 |
| St. Martin Parish, LA | 51,353 | $56,973 | 2.8%/yr | 4.0% | 0.547 |
| Vermilion Parish, LA | 57,123 | $56,434 | 2.3%/yr | 5.1% | 0.572 |
| Iberia Parish, LA | 68,630 | $56,492 | 3.0%/yr | 7.3% | 0.579 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat better than Louisiana, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana.
How Rich Is Lafayette Parish, Louisiana?
Lafayette Parish has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $67,829, about 11% higher than the Louisiana average of $60,934.
How fast is household income rising in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana rose 46%, from $46,317 to $67,829. Over the same years, income here outpaced Louisiana as a whole: +46% against +44%.
What was the median household income in Lafayette Parish in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana was $67,762, up 2% from $66,214 in 2022. The Louisiana median that year was $60,038.
What was the median household income in Lafayette Parish in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana was $58,940. By 2024 it had risen 15% to $67,829.
What is the Gini coefficient in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana?
The Gini coefficient in Lafayette Parish is 0.559. 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 Lafayette Parish, Louisiana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana has narrowed from about 35% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 36% in 2014, and was narrowest at 28% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $3,509 since 2009.
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