Lafayette

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Lafayette, CA Area Guide

Avg Rent

$2,314

Population

25,219

Renter Mix

27% Rent

One of California’s safest communities is also one of its most attractive.

Upscale Suburb Commuter BART Public Transportation Schools Safe Family Friendly

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.

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.

Median Age

46 Years

Largest Age Group

50-59 Years

Approximately 15% of Residents

Under 20

24%

Over 65

23%

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 April 2026, the average apartment rent in Lafayette, CA is $1,868 for a studio, $2,252 for one bedroom, $2,738 for two bedrooms, and $3,553 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Lafayette has decreased by -4.7% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$2,252/month
669 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Lafayette, CA

Getting Around

Fairly Walkable

Walkability

50 / 100

Exceptional Public Transit

Transit

90 / 100

Exceptionally Drivable

Drivability

100 / 100

Fairly Bikeable

Bikeability

40 / 100

Schools

Burton Valley Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

653 Students

Lafayette Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

515 Students

Happy Valley Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

463 Students

Springhill Elementary

Public

Grades K-5

479 Students

M. H. Stanley Middle

Public

Grades 6-8

1,117 Students

Acalanes High

Public

Grades 9-12

1,256 Students

Points of Interest

Parks and Recreation

  • Larkey Park
  • Lindsay Wildlife Museum
  • Civic Park
  • Butterfly Habitat Gardens
  • Briones Regional Park

Airports

  • Metro Oakland International
  • San Francisco International

Top Apartments in Lafayette

Houses for Rent in Lafayette

Search Nearby 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 February 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.