Median Age
46 Years
Largest Age Group
50-59 Years
Approximately 15% of Residents
Under 20
24%
Over 65
23%
Avg Rent
$2,314
Population
25,219
Renter Mix
27% Rent
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.
Median Household Income
$205,731
Average: $206,806
Education
14,208
Residents Have a Degree
Job Market
12,688
Workers Employed
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.
Education Distribution
Review this city's overall education levels.
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.
Explore how walkable, bikeable, drivable, and transit-friendly Lafayette, CA is for everyday living.
Fairly Walkable
Walkability
Exceptional Public Transit
Transit
Exceptionally Drivable
Drivability
Fairly Bikeable
Bikeability
Public
Grades K-5
653 Students
Public
Grades K-5
515 Students
Public
Grades K-5
463 Students
Public
Grades K-5
479 Students
Public
Grades 6-8
1,117 Students
Public
Grades 9-12
1,256 Students
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.
† 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.