Signals
Lafayette
Richmond
Opportunity
60 · Top 43%
vs45 · Bottom 27%
Climate
89 · Top 8%
vs89 · Top 8%
Physical resilience
23 · Bottom 17%
vs23 · Bottom 17%
Housing affordability
56 · Bottom 16%
vs51 · Bottom 11%
Access
97 · Top 21%
vs95 · Top 40%
Economic stability
75 · Top 18%
vs60 · Top 50%
Measured values
| Metric | Lafayette | Richmond | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,285 | 115,505 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $228,250 | $95,391 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $123,402 | $43,743 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,683/sq mi | 3,845/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $2,000,001 | $668,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,892 | $1,960 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 77.1% | 54.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 4.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.8% | -1.8% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 79.0% | 33.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 2.9% | 13.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 88°F | 66°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 41°F | 47°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 16.1" | 22.9" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 13 mi | 18 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.5 min | 37.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 45.7 | 37.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 46 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 21.05 | 22.71 | 2024-25 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 5.4% | 78.9% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Lafayette
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Richmond
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake, inland flooding.
Full profiles: Lafayette, CA · Richmond, CA · How this is calculated: methodology