Median Age
46 Years
Largest Age Group
50-59 Years
Approximately 15% of Residents
Under 20
24%
Over 65
23%
Lafayette, CA
Area Guide
Avg Rent
$2,346
Population
25,219
Renter Mix
27% Rent
One of California’s safest communities is also one of its most attractive.
Upscale
•
Suburb
•
Commuter
Tucked into the rolling hills of Contra Costa County, Lafayette sits just a BART ride from Oakland and San Francisco, making it one of the Bay Area's most well-connected suburban cities. Daily life revolves around the outdoors — Lafayette Reservoir draws hikers, joggers, and kayakers year-round, while Briones Regional Park offers miles of trails with sweeping East Bay views. Downtown Lafayette features a walkable stretch of locally owned shops and restaurants that give the area a genuine small-town feel, despite the major metro region next door.
Renters will find various housing options, from garden-style apartment communities nestled in the hills to spacious townhomes and low-rise buildings near the downtown corridor. The BART station makes the city especially appealing for commuters who want a quieter base without sacrificing easy Bay Area access. Named after the Marquis de Lafayette, the French hero of the American Revolution, the city carries history in its name — and a distinct sense of place that sets it apart from surrounding suburbs.
Explore the City
There are tons of walking trails around Lafayette for residents to enjoy.
A mountain biker climbs up the the Ridge Trail in the middle of summer assisted by e-power.
Many different bands perform at the Lafayette Art & Wine Festival.
Lafayette Reservoir is stocked with trout and catfish, making it a popular spot for fishing.
Locals gather in downtown Lafayette to talk and catch up.
The Lafayette-Moraga Regional Trail is a 7.65-mile pedestrian, bicycle, and equestrian path.
Demographics
Median Household Income
$205,731
Average: $206,806
Education
14,208
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
12,688
Workers Employed
Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.
Housing Distribution
Lafayette has more homeowners than renters.
Renters
27%
Non-Renters
73%
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
Bachelor's or Higher
54%
Other Education
46%
Rent Trends
As of June 2026, the average apartment rent in Lafayette, CA is $1,939 for a studio, $2,343 for one bedroom, $2,945 for two bedrooms, and $3,650 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Lafayette has increased by 0.5% in the past year.
Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$2,343/month
664 Sq Ft
House
$5,803/month
1,652 Sq Ft
Condo
$3,519/month
1,073 Sq Ft
Getting Around
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Lafayette, CA is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
50
/ 100
Exceptional Public Transit
Transit
90
/ 100
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
100
/ 100
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
40
/ 100
Scores provided by
Schools
Burton Valley Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
653 Students
Public
Grades K-5
515 Students
Public
Grades K-5
653 Students
Public
Grades K-5
515 Students
Happy Valley Elementary School
Public
Grades K-5
463 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
1,117 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
1,117 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,256 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,256 Students
School data provided by
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Data provided by
GreatSchools.org
© 2026. All rights reserved.
Points of Interest
Shopping Centers
Parks and Recreation
- Larkey Park
- Lindsay Wildlife Museum
- Civic Park
- Butterfly Habitat Gardens
- Briones Regional Park
Transit / Subway
Commuter Rail
Military Bases
Airports
- Metro Oakland International
- San Francisco International
Top Apartments in Lafayette
Houses for Rent in Lafayette
Search Nearby Rentals
Nearby City Rentals
Nearby Neighborhood Rentals
Nearby House Rentals
Methodology
† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.
Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.
Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2026.
Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.