Kfc-longjohnsilvers, 2006
Lafayette’s story
184 years in pictures
Census counts: 210 in 1850, 5,584 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 2006 and 4 maps from 1931 on.
- 1842Lafayette is settled
LafayetteTN
A town of 6,020, settled in 1842.
Photo: Brian Stansberry · CC BY 4.0
Population
6,020
2025 Census estimate · +7.5% since 2020
Typical home
$265K
+2.7% in a year
Household income
$52K
median
Median age
32.3
years
Jobs based here
4,391
A job hub
TownGrade
C
#91 of 175 in TN
Is Lafayette a good place to live?
Lafayette gives you more for your money than most places: homes are within reach, about $265K for a typical one, or 3.1 years of the Nashville metro’s $85K median household income. It grades C overall, ranked 91st of 175 in Tennessee. The low prices come with trade-offs. CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 93% of the country, and the median household income is $52K, and 28% of residents live below the poverty line. 28% of residents live below the poverty line in Lafayette, above both the Tennessee town median (14%) and the median of U.S. towns (9.6%). Only 7 of the 177 Tennessee towns we compare have a higher share of children under 18 than Lafayette. The biggest park or preserve is Macon County Fairgrounds, at 30 acres.
What makes Lafayette stand out
Where Lafayette beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
Jobs vs. working residents
Jobs here4,391
Residents who work2,375
Work
1.8 jobs for every working resident
A regional job hub: more jobs per worker than 92% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023.
Typical home value
Lafayette$265K
Tennessee$331K
Cost of livingA−
More affordable than 83% of U.S. towns
Zillow Home Value Index; area median household income, Census ACS.
A growing town
Lafayette has grown 34% since 2010
4,474 counted in 2010 and 5,584 in 2020; an estimated 6,020 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 7.5% since 2020, after 24.8% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Lafayette grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Tennessee), ordered by how far Lafayette is from typical.
HealthMacon Community Hospital 0.4 miles awayDOpen →Jobs & incomeDOpen →Cost of livingA−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 27% of U.S. communities; tornadoes tops the listB+Open →SafetyCOpen →SchoolsBOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 7.2 of 20; 3% of households have no car; 2.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 2% conserved landB−Open →History1 notable person born hereC+Open →Civic life2.8 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
ClimateMild winters, 89° summer afternoons, 2″ of snow–Open →Housing market73 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 32.3; 12% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Lafayette: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Lafayette, and how to reach them.
PowerTri-County Elec Member Corp (TN)12.9¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterLafayette Water SystemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Lafayette’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Tennessee you can register online until 30 days before Election Day, in person until 30 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereMacon County Election CommissionMacon County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code3708337083 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Lafayette.
Lafayette trades lower home prices for longer drives to work, draws workers from Red Boiling Springs and beyond and fares better on crime within Tennessee than nationally.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade D
About one in four working residents works right in Lafayette
4,391 jobs are based in Lafayette, 1.8 for every working resident, so most of the people who work here commute in.
About one in 4 of Lafayette’s working residents works in town. Jobs based in Lafayette grew to 4,391 in 2023, 755 more than in 2013. The average trip to work in Lafayette is 28 minutes.
23%work in town
| Lafayette | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 23% | 12% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 25 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $52,000 | $61,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Lafayette23%
Nashville13%
Gallatin9%
Lebanon5%
Portland3%
29 mi
median commute distance
4,391
jobs based in Lafayette
A job hub
jobs vs. working residents
B−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 52% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SchoolsB
Lafayette’s schools rank ahead of 60% of Tennessee districts
Its public schools are run by the Macon County school district. Three of its 6 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Macon County High School, with 964 students.
60%of TN districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macon County Junior High SchoolLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 778 | B+ |
| Macon County High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 964 | B− |
| Lafayette Elementary SchoolTop results in townGrades 4–5 | Grades 4–5 | 442 | A− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within TN on state tests and graduation
HealthD
Lafayette’s grade for health is a D
22% of Lafayette adults report frequent mental distress. Lafayette beats the Tennessee average on 0 of 31 CDC measures and trails it on 14. 21% of Lafayette adults smoke cigarettes.
7%healthier than U.S. townsDHealth Grade
| Lafayette | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 20% | 17% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 19% | 14% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 29% | 23% |
| Fair or poor health (CDC PLACES) | 27% | 24% | 19% |
31 measures vs. Tennessee
0 better17 too close to call14 worse
| What stands out | Lafayette | TN |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 30.1% | 14.6% |
| More uninsured adults | 16% | 11.6% |
| More adults facing food insecurity | 22.3% | 16.2% |
Macon Community Hospital
0.4 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
25th
percentile among TN towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
#56for trails in TN
| Lafayette | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 2.2% | 1.7% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.3 miles per square mile | 0.2 | 0.4 |
2.2%
conserved · 73 of 3,392 acres
1.7 mi
of trails · 0.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Key Park | 1 mi | 18 |
| 2. Macon County Fairgrounds | — | 30 |
| 3. Macon County Park | — | 15 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Tornadoes leads a low hazard risk in Lafayette
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 73% of U.S. communities.
27risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
TornadoesInland floodingEarthquakes
5
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SafetyC
More crime per resident in Lafayette than in 67% of U.S. towns
At 26.5 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 51% of Tennessee’s graded towns.
Lafayette’s property crime rate is 17 per 1,000 residents.
33%of U.S. towns report more crimeCSafety Grade
| Lafayette | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 17 per 1,000 residents | 11.5 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 2.5 per 1,000 residents | 2.7 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Lafayette2.5
Tennessee5
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Lafayette17
Tennessee16.6
U.S.15.5
33rd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
51st
percentile among TN towns
15
violent crimes reported in 2025
102
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Climate
Mild winters and hot summers in Lafayette
January nights average 27.3°: milder than most of the country, but colder than 88% of Tennessee places with climate records; July afternoons average 88.6°.
Lafayette has chilly winters and warm summers, with plenty of rain. About 2 inches of snow falls in a winter.
2″snow a winter
| Lafayette | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July high | 89°F | 89°F | 85°F |
| January low | 27°F | 29°F | 22°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter30–49°
Spring46–69°
Summer65–87°
Fall47–71°
Nov 1
typical first frost
Apr 3
typical last frost
+0.9°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HousingCost of living grade A−
Lafayette’s grade for cost of living is an A−
Homes are within reach (about $265K for the typical one, A− for cost of living), but half of working residents commute more than 29 miles.
49% of households own their home in Lafayette. The typical Lafayette home is worth about $265,000, up 2.7% in a year, 20% below the Tennessee typical home.
$265KZillow home value
| Lafayette | Tennessee towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 49% | 66% | 73% |
| Median rent | $896 a month | $950 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Lafayette$265K
Tennessee$331K
Market temperature
73
days on market
98.1%
sale-to-list price
+2.7%
value change, 1 year
8
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Lafayette
20pages on Lafayette
The big questions
SchoolsBBeat 60% of TN districts · 6 schoolsSafetyC2.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthDBetter than TN on 0 of 31 CDC measuresCost of livingA−$265K typical home · up 2.7% in a yearWork & commuteD$52K median household income · 4,391 jobs hereNatural hazardsB+FEMA risk higher than 27% of U.S. communities · tornadoes
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Lafayette; the nearest are
Cumberland UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Lebanon26.7 mi$27,840 tuitionVolunteer State Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Gallatin28.2 mi$4,756 in-state tuitionTennessee Technological UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Cookeville38 mi$11,376 in-state tuition
About 4 of every 100 Lafayette residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Tennessee.
A job hub
Every workday, about 3,855 people come to Lafayette for work
Where Lafayette’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
4,391jobs based in Lafayette
23%of working residents work in town
29 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Lafayette
City in Tennessee, United States
Lafayette is a city in and the county seat of Macon County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 4,474 at the 2010 census, and had 5,584 in 2020.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 5.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 958 ft
- ZIP code
- 37083
- Area code
- 615
Questions about Lafayette
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Lafayette, TN a good place to live?
Lafayette grades C overall, better than 27% of U.S. towns and #91 of 175 in Tennessee. It grades D for health, C for safety and B for schools. Health is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Lafayette, TN expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades A−.