Where does this demographic data come from?

All demographic data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, which samples about 3.5 million households annually. The 5-year estimates provide the most reliable data for small geographies like municipalities.

What is the difference between Census data and ACS data?

The decennial Census (conducted every 10 years) is a full population count focusing on basic demographics. The ACS is an ongoing survey that collects detailed data on income, education, housing, commute patterns, and more. ACS data is updated annually but represents averages over a 5-year period.

How accurate is this data for small towns?

For smaller municipalities, ACS estimates have wider margins of error because fewer residents are sampled. The 5-year estimates reduce this uncertainty by averaging over a longer period. For towns under 5,000 people, treat specific numbers as approximations rather than precise counts.

West Lafayette, IN Population, Income & Demographics 2026

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Demographics — 2024 ACS 5-Year Estimatesi

Census

Populationi

45,159

Median Agei

21.4

Race & Ethnicityi

White

65.3%29,481

Asian

21.9%9,873

Hispanic/Latino

5.5%2,472

Two or More

3.5%1,579

Black

3.5%1,567

Other

0.2%109

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.1%58

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

0%20

Educational Attainment (Age 25+)i

GED/Alternative

0.9%125

High School Diploma

8.5%1,148

Some College (<1 yr)

2.9%388

Some College (1+ yr)

6.8%917

Associate's Degree

5.2%705

Bachelor's Degree

28.5%3,850

Master's Degree

21.8%2,951

Professional Degree

4.2%570

Doctorate

18.8%2,542

HS or Higher

97.6%

BA or Higher

73.3%

Graduate+

44.8%

Housingi

Median Home Valuei

$350,000

Median Renti

$1,225

Tenure

Owner-Occupied

29.4%4,424

Renter-Occupied

70.6%10,638

Total Units

16,824

Homeownership

29.4%

Vacancy Rate

10.5%

Home Values

Under $50K

0.8%36

$50K–$100K

0.2%9

$100K–$150K

2.7%119

$150K–$200K

8.8%390

$200K–$300K

21.9%971

$300K–$500K

49.2%2,177

$500K–$1M

16.2%716

$1M+

0.1%6

Rent Distribution

Under $500

209

$500–$750

1,030

$750–$1,000

2,296

$1,000–$1,250

1,892

$1,250–$1,500

1,966

$1,500–$2,000

1,700

$2,000+

1,382

Year Built

2020 or later

2%340

2010–2019

19%3,189

2000–2009

20%3,372

1990–1999

10.7%1,793

1980–1989

12.4%2,083

1970–1979

10.4%1,743

1960–1969

11.9%1,996

1950–1959

5.4%912

1940–1949

2.2%372

1939 or earlier

6.1%1,024

Heating Fuel

Electricity

52.2%7,866

Utility Gas

45.2%6,814

Bottled/LP Gas

1.6%235

No Fuel

0.8%116

Other

0.2%28

Wood

0%3

Economyi

Median Household Incomei

$34,891

Mean Household Incomei

$72,653

Per Capita Incomei

$24,882

Poverty Ratei

25.4%

Unemploymenti

4.5%

Labor Forcei

21,281

Household Income Distribution

Under $10K

20%3,013

$10K–$15K

8.3%1,247

$15K–$20K

4.5%672

$20K–$25K

8.1%1,227

$25K–$30K

4.1%611

$30K–$35K

5.2%776

$35K–$40K

4.3%646

$40K–$45K

2.6%392

$45K–$50K

2.9%438

$50K–$60K

4.1%618

$60K–$75K

4%610

$75K–$100K

7.9%1,186

$100K–$125K

5.1%766

$125K–$150K

3.9%583

$150K–$200K

5.5%833

$200K+

9.6%1,444

Ancestry & Heritage

Self-reported ancestry groups. Residents may report multiple ancestries, so totals may exceed 100%.

Foreign-Born Populationi

Foreign-Borni

9,23620.5%

By Region

Top Countries

India

2,644

China

2,109

Korea

454

Mexico

204

United Kingdom

152

Canada

113

Poland

Germany

Commute & Transportationi

Workersi

18,382

Avg. Commutei

16.1 min

How People Get to Work

Travel Time to Work

Workforce

Total Employed

20,295

Occupations

Industries

Social Characteristicsi

Marital Status (15+)i

Veteransi

742(1.8% of civilian adults)

Health Insurancei

97.5%Insured

2.5%Uninsured