Should I Move To
West Lafayette, Indiana is home to about 44,861 people. On cost of living, it lands in the affordable band — 12% below the national average. The median renter pays around $1,056 a month against a typical household income of $30,317. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 49 out of 100 (grade D), putting it at #522 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
West Lafayette's composite cost-of-living index lands at 88 (100 = US average), which puts it in the affordable band. At $1,056/mo against $30,317 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 42% of income on housing — well above 30%, which is the band where most financial advisors start flagging housing stress. Median home value sits around $303,300.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is cold-winter — summer averages around 82°F, winter averages around 21°F. Precipitation totals about 39 inches a year. You'll need a car for most things, though the central core is more walkable than the citywide score suggests. AQI runs about 40 — a "good" reading.
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
West Lafayette reads as a moderate fit for families. The profile-weighted score is 68/100 — a B-. Its standout dimension is education (97/100); the soft spot is climate (25/100).
West Lafayette doesn't obviously fit retirees. The profile-weighted score is 52/100 — a C-. Its standout dimension is education (97/100); the soft spot is climate (25/100).
West Lafayette reads as a moderate fit for remote workers. The profile-weighted score is 58/100 — a C. Its standout dimension is education (97/100); the soft spot is climate (25/100).
West Lafayette doesn't obviously fit young professionals. The profile-weighted score is 45/100 — a D. Its standout dimension is education (97/100); the soft spot is climate (25/100).
Our overall score for West Lafayette is 49/100 — a D, sitting at #522 in the national ranking. It's a weighted average across the seven UrbRank dimensions.
By the composite index, West Lafayette sits at 88 — affordable, 12% below the national average. Median renter pays around $1,056 a month.
West Lafayette runs cold-winter on the weather. Summer's near 82°F, winter's near 21°F; 39 inches of precipitation annually.
Walk Score: 39/100. You'll need a car for most things, though the central core is more walkable than the citywide score suggests.
Roughly 44,861 people live here, with 71% college-educated (bachelor's or higher) among adults 25+ with a median age of 21.
Drop West Lafayette into the comparison tool with any other US city and you'll get housing costs, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life data lined up side by side. Profile-specific leaderboards (families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals) are linked from the navigation.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Compare West Lafayette with other Indiana cities scored on UrbRank.
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