West Lafayette, IN

Census Place

Add Comparison

2023 Population

44,802

0.132% 1-year decline

US Senator

Todd Young

Republican Party

US Senator

Jim Banks

Republican Party

2023 Median Age

21.4

0% 1-year change

2023 Poverty Rate

37.4%

4.63% 1-year decrease

2023 Median Household Income

$33,497

10.5% 1-year growth

2023 Median Property Value

$318,100

4.88% 1-year growth

2023 Employed Population

20,192

1.85% 1-year growth

About

In 2023, West Lafayette, IN had a population of 44.8k people with a median age of 21.4 and a median household income of $33,497. Between 2022 and 2023 the population of West Lafayette, IN declined from 44,861 to 44,802, a −0.132% decrease and its median household income grew from $30,317 to $33,497, a 10.5% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in West Lafayette, IN are White (Non-Hispanic) (66.4%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (20.3%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (3.67%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.41%), and White (Hispanic) (2.31%).

None of the households in West Lafayette, IN reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

85.6% of the residents in West Lafayette, IN are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in West Lafayette, IN are Purdue University-Main Campus (13,356 degrees awarded in 2022).

In 2023, the median property value in West Lafayette, IN was $318,100, and the homeownership rate was 30.5%.

Most people in West Lafayette, IN drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 15.4 minutes. The average car ownership in West Lafayette, IN was 2 cars per household.

United States Indiana Tippecanoe County, IN Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN Tippecanoe County--Lafayette & West Lafayette Cities PUMA, IN

Population & Diversity

West Lafayette, IN is home to a population of 44.8k people, from which 85.6% are citizens. As of 2023, 21% of West Lafayette, IN residents were born outside of the country (9.39k people).

In 2023, there were 3.27 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (29.8k people) in West Lafayette, IN than any other race or ethnicity. There were 9.1k Asian (Non-Hispanic) and 1.64k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

85.6%

2023 Citizenship

84.6%

2022 Citizenship

As of 2023, 85.6% of West Lafayette, IN residents were US citizens, which is lower than the national average of 93.4%. In 2022, the percentage of US citizens in West Lafayette, IN was 84.6%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in West Lafayette, IN compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in West Lafayette, IN

White (Non-Hispanic)
29.8k ± 876
Asian (Non-Hispanic)
9.1k ± 663
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
1.64k ± 376

5.57%

Hispanic Population

2.5k people

5.57% of the people in West Lafayette, IN are hispanic (2.5k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in West Lafayette, IN as a share of the total population.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Indiana.

Most Common Origin

Mexico
101,350 ± 7,757 people
India
35,477 ± 4,612 people
China
18,850 ± 3,366 people

In 2022, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Indiana was Mexico, the natal country of 101,350 Indiana residents, followed by India with 35,477 and China with 18,850.

Foreign-Born Population

21%

2023 Foreign-Born Population

9.39k people

22.4%

2022 Foreign-Born Population

10.1k people

As of 2023, 21% of West Lafayette, IN residents (9.39k people) were born outside of the United States, which is higher than the national average of 13.8%. In 2022, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in West Lafayette, IN was 22.4%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in West Lafayette, IN compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Korea
221 ± 191
Gulf War (2001-)
170 ± 92
World War II
118 ± 93

West Lafayette, IN has a large population of military personnel who served in Korea, 1.3 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

The economy of West Lafayette, IN employs 20.2k people. The largest industries in West Lafayette, IN are Educational Services (8,229 people), Accommodation & Food Services (2,317 people), and Manufacturing (1,581 people), and the highest paying industries are Public Administration ($78,750), Wholesale Trade ($40,938), and Construction ($37,978).

Males in Indiana have an average income that is 1.36 times higher than the average income of females, which is $53,980. The income inequality in Indiana (measured using the Gini index) is 0.448, which is lower than than the national average.

Employment

Occupations

20.2k

2023 Value

± 1,232

1.85%

1 Year growth

± 8.46%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in West Lafayette, IN grew at a rate of 1.85%, from 19.8k employees to 20.2k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in West Lafayette, IN, are Education Instruction, & Library Occupations (4,986 people), Food Preparation & Serving Related Occupations (1,960 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,862 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of West Lafayette, IN.

Unemployment Insurance Claims

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for false.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Indiana (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Industries

Employment by Industries

20.2k

2023 Value

± 1,232

1.85%

1 Year growth

± 8.46%

From 2022 to 2023, employment in West Lafayette, IN grew at a rate of 1.85%, from 19.8k employees to 20.2k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in West Lafayette, IN, are Educational Services (8,229 people), Accommodation & Food Services (2,317 people), and Manufacturing (1,581 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of West Lafayette, IN, though some of these residents may live in West Lafayette, IN and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Median Earnings by Industry

$21,596

Median earning men ± $1,557

$12,293

Median earning women ± $1,935

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2023 are Public Administration ($84,180), Wholesale Trade ($41,641), and Construction ($37,727).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2023 are Finance & Insurance, & Real Estate & Rental & Leasing ($31,184), Other Services Except Public Administration ($25,949), and Public Administration ($21,705).

Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Indiana.

Y-Axis

2.48%

Year-over-year growth

Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 3.21M people employed in Indiana. This represents a 2.48% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 15.4%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Indiana.

Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Indiana went to Donald J. Trump with 58.8% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (39.8%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1%).

Todd Young and Jim Banks are the senators currently representing the state of Indiana. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

Indiana is currently represented by 9 members in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Elections

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for West Lafayette, IN. Showing the available data for Indiana.

2024 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (58.8%)
Republican Party
Kamala Harris (39.8%)
Democratic Party
Robert Kennedy (1%)
Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Indiana went to Donald J. Trump with 58.8% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (39.8%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Indiana for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

Senator Elections

US Senators from Indiana

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Indiana.

Todd Young

Senator from Indiana

Assumed office on January 3, 2017

Jim Banks

Senator from Indiana

Assumed office on January 3, 2025

Todd Young and Jim Banks are the senators currently representing Indiana.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Indiana over time, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

US Representative Elections

US Representatives from Indiana

Indiana is currently represented by 9 members in the U.S. house.

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the members for Indiana have changed over time starting in 2008.

Education

In 2022, universities in West Lafayette, IN awarded 13,356 degrees. The student population of West Lafayette, IN in 2022 is skewed towards men, with 29,790 male students and 21,738 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in West Lafayette, IN are White (8,031 and 72.5%), followed by Asian (1,296 and 11.7%), Hispanic or Latino (708 and 6.39%), and Two or More Races (481 and 4.34%).

The largest universities in West Lafayette, IN by number of degrees awarded are Purdue University-Main Campus (13,356 and 100%).

The most popular majors in West Lafayette, IN are General Business Administration & Management (728 and 5.45%), Mechanical Engineering (648 and 4.85%), and Aerospace, Aeronautical, & Astronautical Engineering (539 and 4.04%).

The median tuition cost in West Lafayette, IN for a public four year colleges is $9,718 for in-state students and $28,520 for out-of-state students.

Admissions & Enrollments

Applicants, Admissions & Enrolled

University

Measure

In 2022 in West Lafayette, IN, the percentage of applicants admitted was 52.7%, while the percentage of admitted who enrolled was 26.1%. The number of students enrolled in 2022 was 51,528 (57.8% men and 42.2% women).

The line chart shows the evolution of the percentage of applicants admitted, admitted who enrolled or the number of students enrolled according to the option selected in the upper button.

Enrollments by Gender and Races

Universities

In 2022 there were 51,528 students enrolled in West Lafayette, IN, 57.8% men and 42.2% women.

By race, the largest number of students enrolled was concentrated in White with 28,700 records, of which 45.2% were women and 54.8% men.

Completions

Concentrations

Most Common

Computer Science
439 degrees awarded
Mechanical Engineering
430 degrees awarded
Aerospace, Aeronautical, & Astronautical Engineering
298 degrees awarded

In 2022, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in West Lafayette, IN was Computer Science with 439 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in West Lafayette, IN according to their major.

Universities

Gender

Race

Purdue University-Main Campus

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

13,356 degrees awarded

In 2022, the institution with the largest number of graduating students was Purdue University-Main Campus with 13,356 degrees awarded.

Student Diversity

University

In 2022, 7,336 men were awarded degrees from institutions in West Lafayette, IN, which is 1.22 times more than the 6,020 female students who received degrees in the same year.

In 2022 the most common race/ethnicity group awarded degrees at institutions was White students. These 8,031 degrees mean that there were 6.2 times more degrees awarded to White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Asian, with 1,296 degrees awarded.

Awarded Degrees over Time

The graph shows the evolution of awarded degrees by degrees. Under the paragraphs, the average number of awarded degrees by university in each degree is shown.

Tuition

Average Net Price by Sector

Universities

Public, 4-year or above ($9,718) is the sector with the highest median state tuition in 2022.

Public, 4-year or above ($274) is the sector with the highest median state fee in 2022.

Public, 4-year or above ($1,010) is the sector with the highest average net price of books and supplies.

The graph shows the average net price by sector and year.

Working Population

Educational Pyramid

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Indiana.

Measure

In 2022, 0.799% of men over 25 years of age had not completed any academic degree (no schooling), while 0.781% of women were in the same situation.

This visualization shows the gender distribution of the population according to the academic level reached.

Educational Attainment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Indiana.

Race

The most common educational levels obtained by the working population in 2022 were High School or Equivalent (1.75M), Some college (1.13M), and Bachelors Degree (879k).

This visualization illustrates the percentage distribution of the population according to the highest educational level reached. You can filter the data by race by using the selector above.

Housing & Living

The median property value in West Lafayette, IN was $318,100 in 2023, which is 1.05 times larger than the national average of $303,400. Between 2022 and 2023 the median property value increased from $303,300 to $318,100, a 4.88% increase. The homeownership rate in West Lafayette, IN is 30.5%, which is approximately the same as the national average of 65%.

People in West Lafayette, IN have an average commute time of 15.4 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in West Lafayette, IN is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Median household income in West Lafayette, IN is $33,497. In 2023, the place with the highest median household income in West Lafayette, IN was Census Tract 106 with a value of $107,500, followed by Census Tract 51.02 and Census Tract 52, with respective values of $105,338 and $82,578.

Housing

Property

$318,100

Median Property Value 2023

±$16,572

$4,434

Median Property Taxes

±$456

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In West Lafayette, IN the largest share of households pay taxes in the $3k+ range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in West Lafayette, IN compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

Rent vs Own

30.5%

Homeownership

2023

64.7%

Homeowners with Mortgage

2023

In 2023, 30.5% of the housing units in West Lafayette, IN were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 29.5%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in West Lafayette, IN compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Equity

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Race/Ethnicity

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 106
Census Tract 51.02
Census Tract 52

In 2023, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in West Lafayette, IN was Census Tract 106 with a value of $107,500, followed by Census Tract 51.02 and Census Tract 52, with respective values of $105,338 and $82,578.

The following map shows all of the places in West Lafayette, IN colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$33,497

Median Household Income

± $3,819

14.5k

Number of Households

± 1,056

In 2023, the median household income of the 14.5k households in West Lafayette, IN grew to $33,497 from the previous year's value of $30,317.

The following chart displays the households in West Lafayette, IN distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the < $10k range.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for West Lafayette, IN is from Indiana.

0.448

2022 Wage GINI in Indiana

0.449

2021 Wage GINI in Indiana

In 2022, the income inequality in Indiana was 0.448 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.283% decline from 2021 to 2022, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Indiana was lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Indiana in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Indiana across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2023

Drove Alone (49%)
Walked (24.5%)
Worked At Home (12.5%)

In 2023, 49% of workers in West Lafayette, IN drove alone to work, followed by those who walked to work (24.5%) and those who worked at home (12.5%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Commute Time

15.4 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in West Lafayette, IN have a shorter commute time (15.4 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.6 minutes). Additionally, 0.321% of the workforce in West Lafayette, IN have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in West Lafayette, IN compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in West Lafayette, IN distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in West Lafayette, IN have 2 cars.

Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

37.4% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in West Lafayette, IN (11.4k out of 30.5k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.4%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Males 18 - 24, followed by Females 18 - 24 and then Males 25 - 34.

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in West Lafayette, IN is White, followed by Asian and Hispanic.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Health

97.3% of the population of West Lafayette, IN has health coverage, with 67% on employee plans, 4.63% on Medicaid, 5.16% on Medicare, 19.8% on non-group plans, and 0.774% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Tippecanoe County, IN see 1497 patients per year on average, which represents a 3.24% increase from the previous year (1450 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1929 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 579 patients per year.

Coverage

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Tippecanoe County, IN.

1,497 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Tippecanoe County, IN

Primary care physicians in Tippecanoe County, IN see an average of 1,497 patients per year. This represents a 3.24% increase from the previous year (1,450 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Tippecanoe County, IN in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Health Care Diversity

In 2023, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 20% under 18 years, 58.9% between 18 and 34 years, 14.1% between 35 and 64 years, and 7.01% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 54.3% were men and 45.7% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

Uninsured People

2.69%

Uninsured

67%

Employer Coverage

4.63%

Medicaid

5.16%

Medicare

19.8%

Non-Group

0.774%

Military or VA

Between 2022 and 2023, the percent of uninsured citizens in West Lafayette, IN declined by 8.19% from 2.93% to 2.69%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in West Lafayette, IN changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.

Keep Exploring

Indiana

State

Tippecanoe County, IN

County

Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN

MSA

United States

Nation