Lafayette Parish, Louisiana: commercial real estate data.
Lafayette Parish, Louisiana had an estimated 254,241 residents on July 1, 2024, up 5.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 241,759, across 269 square miles. County output reached $19.78 bn in 2024, 8,844 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 279 7(a) approvals worth $193.5 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Lafayette Parish
How many people live in Lafayette Parish
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024247,997
- Households100,903
- Average household size2.46
- Median household income$67,451
- Median age36.5
- Median gross rent$1,057 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$242,900
- Home value to household income3.6 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income18.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher35.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree11.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over167,840
- Population under 1859,948
- Share under 1824.2 percent
- Population 65 and over36,468
- Share 65 and over14.7 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64151,581
- Civilian labor force126,631
- Unemployment rate5.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over67.3 percent
- Rank by population among Louisiana parishes5th of 64
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included290th of 3,222
Lafayette Parish is the 5th largest of 64 Louisiana parishes by population. A median home costs 3.6 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 24.2 percent against 14.7 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Lafayette Parish
Is Lafayette Parish's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024254,241
- Census 2020 base population241,759
- Population change since the 2020 census base5.16 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20243,755
- Births, 20243,195
- Deaths, 20241,987
- Natural change, 20241,208
- Net domestic migration, 20241,119
- Net international migration, 20241,417
- Total net migration, 20242,536
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20243,859
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents508th of 3,144
The county has grown 5.16 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Lafayette Parish
Where are people moving to Lafayette Parish from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving6,258
- People arriving, from those returns11,512
- Tax returns filed by households leaving6,313
- Net household movement-55
- Adjusted gross income arriving$338.0 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-374,000
- Average income of an arriving household$54,015
- Average income of a leaving household$53,604
- Largest single originSt. Martin Parish (586 households)
- Largest single destinationSt. Martin Parish (527 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Martin Parish | 586 | 1,150 | $24.1 m |
| Iberia Parish | 563 | 1,086 | $27.8 m |
| St. Landry Parish | 543 | 1,038 | $25.6 m |
| Vermilion Parish | 450 | 844 | $22.8 m |
| Acadia Parish | 412 | 850 | $17.5 m |
| East Baton Rouge Parish | 240 | 390 | $13.3 m |
| Calcasieu Parish | 207 | 389 | $10.1 m |
| St. Mary Parish | 188 | 337 | $9.1 m |
Households arriving report $411 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is St. Martin Parish, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Lafayette Parish
What is the Lafayette Parish economy?
- County GDP, 2024$19.78 bn
- County GDP, 2023$18.87 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.8 percent
- GDP change over five years37.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Louisiana areas BEA publishes4th of 64
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes262nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$79,752
Output grew 4.8 percent in the latest year and 37.8 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Lafayette Parish
Employment by industry in Lafayette Parish
- Covered employment, annual average137,173
- Establishments reporting11,990
- Average annual pay$58,120
- Average weekly wage$1,118
- Health care and social assistance, employment25,942
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$56,414
- Retail trade, employment16,848
- Retail trade, average annual pay$37,053
- Accommodation and food services, employment14,784
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$21,675
- Manufacturing, employment9,820
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$66,936
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment9,188
- Construction, employment6,947
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 25,942 | 1,618 | $56,414 |
| Retail trade | 16,848 | 1,314 | $37,053 |
| Accommodation and food services | 14,784 | 845 | $21,675 |
| Manufacturing | 9,820 | 426 | $66,936 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 9,188 | 2,062 | $80,978 |
| Construction | 6,947 | 870 | $73,568 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 6,941 | 740 | $51,110 |
| Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction | 6,514 | 271 | $110,477 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 25,942 jobs, 18.9 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Lafayette Parish
How many businesses are in Lafayette Parish?
- Establishments, all industries8,844
- Employment at those establishments132,799
- Annual payroll$7.55 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents35.7
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Lafayette Parish
Building permits in Lafayette Parish
- Housing units authorized by permit, 20241,592
- Declared construction value permitted$384.6 m
- Single family units authorized1,574
- Multifamily units authorized18
- Multifamily share of units1.1 percent
- Average declared value per unit$241,568
- Units authorized per 1,000 households15.8
Single-family homes are 98.9 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Lafayette Parish
SBA loans in Lafayette Parish (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded279
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$193.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$693,462
- Median 7(a) approval$250,000
- 10th percentile approval$50,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,028,800
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)4,214
- Jobs per approval15.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active49
- Distinct industries receiving approvals133
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer13.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms38
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter202
- Franchise loans58
- Franchise share of approvals20.8 percent
- Most active lenderGulf Coast Bank (54)
- 504 approvals recorded122
- 504 gross approval dollars$76.0 m
- Average 504 approval$622,959
- Median 504 approval$407,000
- Distinct CDCs active4
- 504 jobs per approval12.1
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved19.5
- Most active CDCLouisiana Capital Certified Development Company, Inc. (114)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$269.5 m
The average approval of $693,462 sits well above the median of $250,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 13.6 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lafayette Parish
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Lafayette Parish
Do SBA loans in Lafayette Parish get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded44
- Paid in full37
- Charged off7
- Charge-off rate on resolved loans15.9 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure196
- Status: Paid in full37
- Status: Cancelled28
- Status: Charged off7
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed11
Of the 44 loans that have reached a final outcome, 15.9 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lafayette Parish
SBA lending by place in Lafayette Parish
- Borrower cities with recorded lending8
- Lafayette, approvals174
- Broussard, approvals37
- Youngsville, approvals28
- Scott, approvals14
- Duson, approvals12
- Carencro, approvals12
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | 174 | $124,045,400 |
| Broussard | 37 | $23,390,100 |
| Youngsville | 28 | $11,091,600 |
| Scott | 14 | $15,472,000 |
| Duson | 12 | $8,640,900 |
| Carencro | 12 | $6,201,600 |
| New Iberia | 1 | $4,580,000 |
| Layfayette | 1 | $54,300 |
Lafayette accounts for 174 approvals against 37 in Broussard. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Lafayette Parish
How large is Lafayette Parish?
- Land area269 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Louisiana parishes60th of 64
- Width, east to west22.7 mi
- Height, north to south23.6 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land922
- Establishments per square mile32.88
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Lafayette Parish
Flood risk in Lafayette Parish
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book7
- Of those, participating in the NFIP7
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class5
- Radon levels in Lafayette Parish, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The EPA places Lafayette Parish in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Lafayette Parish site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Lafayette Parish site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024247,997
- Households100,903
- Average household size2.46
- Median household income$67,451
- Median age36.5
Common questions
Lafayette Parish questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana?
The Census Bureau estimates 254,241 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 247,997, in 100,903 households, ranking 5th of 64 Louisiana counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Lafayette Parish's population growing?
The population has grown 5.16 percent since the 2020 census base of 241,759, to 254,241 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 3,195 births against 1,987 deaths, with net migration of 2,536. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Lafayette Parish?
$67,451. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $242,900, which is 3.6 times income, and median gross rent is $1,057 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Lafayette Parish?
8,844 establishments, employing 132,799 people with an annual payroll of $7.55 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Lafayette Parish?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 25,942 jobs, 18.9 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 137,173 jobs at an average annual pay of $58,120, or $1,118 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Lafayette Parish?
279 7(a) approvals totaling $193.5 m since FY2020, across 49 lenders, with a median approval of $250,000, plus 122 504 approvals worth $76.0 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Lafayette Parish get paid back?
Of the 44 loans that have reached a final outcome, 37 were paid in full and 7 charged off, a charge-off rate of 15.9 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
How many building permits were issued in Lafayette Parish?
1,592 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $384.6 m. Multifamily was 1.1 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Lafayette Parish?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Lafayette Parish come from?
The largest single origin is St. Martin Parish, with 586 households. Arriving households report an average income of $54,015 against $53,604 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Lafayette Parish on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Lafayette Parish?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Lafayette Parish
Cities and places in Lafayette.
8 Census places lie wholly or partly in Lafayette Parish. All 8 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | city | 121,715 | 174 | Wholly in this county |
| Youngsville | city | 17,427 | 28 | Wholly in this county |
| Broussard | city | 14,322 | 37 | 90.5 percent here, 9.5 percent St. Martin Parish |
| Carencro | city | 11,619 | 12 | Wholly in this county |
| Scott | city | 8,609 | 14 | Wholly in this county |
| Milton | CDP | 2,793 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ossun | CDP | 2,271 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Duson | town | 1,282 | 12 | 75.5 percent here, 24.5 percent Acadia Parish |
A further 2 of the county's 279 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Lafayette Parish, the largest being New Iberia (1), Layfayette (1). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.
Nearby