Lafayette-West Lafayette and Athens-Clarke County receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Measured values
| Metric | Lafayette-West Lafayette | Athens-Clarke County | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 226,805 | 220,197 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $62,011 | $65,608 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $33,768 | $37,279 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 138/sq mi | 215/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $226,100 | $310,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,107 | $1,201 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 58.0% | 55.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 3.5% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 2.7% | 5.0% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.0% | 43.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.7% | 19.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 1,868 | 924 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 8.2 | 4.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -50.7% | -40.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 84°F | 92°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 34°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 37.0" | 49.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 65 mi | 73 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 25.2 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 30.8 | 33.6 | 2024 ACS 5-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-West Lafayette
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Athens-Clarke County
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Your best match
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Full profiles: Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN Metro Area · Athens-Clarke County, GA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology