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Suburb0
Oakland

Lafayette

#5 in Best Places to Live in Contra Costa County
  • A+
    Overall Grade
  • Suburb of Oakland, CA
  • 29 reviews
    A+
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      A+
    2. Crime & Safety
      B
    3. Housing
      C+
    4. Nightlife
      B+
    5. Good for Families
      A+
    6. Diversity
      B+
    7. Jobs
      B+
    8. Weather
      A+
    9. Cost of Living
      D+
    10. Health & Fitness
      A+
    11. Outdoor Activities
      A
    12. Commute
      B+
    View Full Report Card
    Lafayette is a suburb of Oakland with a population of 25,792. Lafayette is in Contra Costa County and is one of the best places to live in California. Living in Lafayette offers residents a suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Lafayette there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many retirees live in Lafayette and residents tend to have moderate political views. The public schools in Lafayette are highly rated.
    About Lafayette...
    Population
    25,792

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $1,214,200
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $1,940
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Suburban
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      27%
    • Own
      73%
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    Lafayette Rankings

    Niche ranks thousands of places to live based on key statistics from the U.S. Census and and expert insights.

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    B
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      3.8
      282.7
    • Murder
      0
      6.1
    • Rape
      7.5
      40.7
    • Robbery
      15.1
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      154.8
      500.1
    • Theft
      1,097
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      71.7
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    B+
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      11%
    • 10-17 years
      14%
    • 18-24 years
      6%
    • 25-34 years
      8%
    • 35-44 years
      11%
    • 45-54 years
      18%
    • 55-64 years
      14%
    • 65+ years
      18%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      33%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      39%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      20%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      6%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      2%
      13%

    Working in Lafayette

    Jobs
    B+
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $152,609
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in Lafayette
    • Public Schools
    • Private Schools
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    More

    Lafayette Reviews

    29 reviews
    All Categories
    The fact that traffic is horrible is a testament as to Lafayette being a popular place to be. It is also an indicator that older residents and feeling a bit resentful that the town has a more urban feel to it than the sleepy rural feeling it had just a decade ago. Good restaurants, a couple of fun bars, great schools & athletics, clean and green area with ample nature just walking distance from anywhere. Because of it's proximity to San Francisco, the wine country and Tahoe, it is expensive - but because of what it is and people wanting to raise families here, it is understandable.
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    Love Lafayette! A very small town which is close to everything the Bay Area offers. I commute to San Francisco and it only takes about 35 minutes from BART.
    First year living here. The neighborhood is extremely quiet, the neighbors are incredibly friendly, and every major city is within a 30 minute drive.