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City · 45,159 residents · Tippecanoe County, Indiana

West Lafayette , Indiana

In West Lafayette, a typical home is worth $350,000 and typical rent is $1,225 a month. Compared with all of Tippecanoe County, the typical home value is 46% higher, typical household income is 42% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 24 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $350,000

    46% above the county

    60% above Indiana

    • West Lafayette
    • Tippecanoe
    • Indiana

  • Typical rent

    $1,225a month

    9% above the county

    15% above Indiana

    • West Lafayette
    • Tippecanoe
    • Indiana

  • Typical household income

    $34,891a year

    42% below the county

    52% below Indiana

    • West Lafayette
    • Tippecanoe
    • Indiana

  • Households that own their home

    29%

    24 points below the county

    41 points below Indiana

    • West Lafayette
    • Tippecanoe
    • Indiana

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$363,027
1.1% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,877 a month
2.7% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

West Lafayette is in Tippecanoe County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Tippecanoe County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets West Lafayette apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. West Lafayette has the lowest homeownership rate of the 134 cities in Indiana with more than 5,000 people: 29%.

  2. West Lafayette has the lowest typical household income of the 134 cities in Indiana with more than 5,000 people: $34,891.

  3. Nearby, in Logansport, the typical home value is $92,200: 74% less than in West Lafayette ($350,000).

  4. West Lafayette has the 3rd largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 120 cities in Indiana with more than 5,000 people (73%).

  5. The typical home in West Lafayette is worth $350,000, 46% more than in Tippecanoe County as a whole ($239,300).

  6. Nearby, in Logansport, the typical rent is $786: 36% less than in West Lafayette ($1,225).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in West Lafayette

What homes there are in West Lafayette, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

There are more apartments in West Lafayette than in Tippecanoe County: 59% of homes, against 27%.

Year built

Homes in West Lafayette are newer: the typical year built is 1992; in Tippecanoe County, 1987.

In West Lafayette, 27% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 44% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 60% in Tippecanoe County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,802 a month

Tippecanoe County: $1,375 a month

Without a mortgage

$614 a month

Tippecanoe County: $495 a month

Owners with a mortgage

61%

Tippecanoe County: 65%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in West Lafayette is $1,802 a month, more than in Tippecanoe County ($1,375); without one, $614.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

The typical home value in West Lafayette rose 56% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Tippecanoe County (56%).

Much as in Tippecanoe County, the typical rent in West Lafayette rose 34% since 2015–2019.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureWest LafayetteTippecanoe CountyIndianaUnited States
Rental vacancy 7.4%5.1%5.6%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.8%1.8%3.4%
People per household 2.032.282.462.53
Drive alone 48%73%76%69%
Carpool 5%7%9%9%
Public transit 5%2%1%3%
Walk or bike 26%6%2%3%
Work from home 15%11%11%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

There is more rental housing open in West Lafayette: 7.4% is empty and offered for rent, against 5.1% in Tippecanoe County.

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.03 on average, against 2.28 in Tippecanoe County.

Many here get to work on foot or by bike: 26%, more than in Tippecanoe County (6%).

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in West Lafayette?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in West Lafayette, worth $350,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 99% of the typical household income in West Lafayette, which is $34,891 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $122,909 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Tippecanoe County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in West Lafayette. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $12,250 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,868

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$343,661
Total interest
$494,447
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $5,911 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $814 a month

  • Tight

    $814 to $1,047 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,047 a month

    Your payment · 99%

Compared with the typical household income in West Lafayette ($34,891 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,868
Principal & interest$2,328
Property tax$239
Home insurance$146
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$155

You need at least $12,250 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

West Lafayette and Tippecanoe County

West Lafayette is in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

West Lafayette's own numbers

Typical home value
$350,000
Typical monthly rent
$1,225
Typical yearly household income
$34,891
Households that own their home
29%
Effective property tax rate
0.82%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Tippecanoe County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,273
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+58%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.2%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Tippecanoe County.

Everything about Tippecanoe County

Buying

Buying a home in West Lafayette

A typical home in West Lafayette is worth $350,000: 46% above the county and 60% above Indiana. With the typical household income in West Lafayette ($34,891 a year), a typical home costs 10.0 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • West Lafayette 10.0 years
  • Tippecanoe 3.9 years
  • Indiana 3.0 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Tippecanoe County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Tippecanoe County rose 102% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Tippecanoe County.

Period County Indiana U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.6% +4.3% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +58% +53% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +102% +95% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

West Lafayette next to Tippecanoe County, Indiana and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • West Lafayette $350,000
  • Tippecanoe $239,300
  • Indiana $218,200
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • West Lafayette $1,225
  • Tippecanoe $1,124
  • Indiana $1,062
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • West Lafayette $34,891
  • Tippecanoe $60,636
  • Indiana $71,957
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
West Lafayette next to Tippecanoe County and Indiana
Measure West Lafayette Tippecanoe County Indiana U.S.
Typical home value $350,000 $239,300 $218,200 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,225 $1,124 $1,062 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $34,891 $60,636 $71,957 $80,734
Households that own their home 29% 53% 71% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,877 $1,474 $1,614 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.82% 0.62% 0.74% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 73% 59% 48% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Tippecanoe County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in West Lafayette

For a typical $350,000 home in West Lafayette, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, West Lafayette's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,868a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $12,250
    Cash to close
    $22,750
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $155

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,804a month

    Down payment
    $17,500
    Cash to close
    $28,000
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $166

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,282a month

    Down payment
    $70,000
    Cash to close
    $80,500
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,605a month

    Down payment
    $52,500
    Cash to close
    $63,000
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for West Lafayette and for Tippecanoe County.

Property tax

Effective rate in West Lafayette

0.82%of the home’s value each year

$2,877 a year for the typical owner in West Lafayette.

  • West Lafayette 0.82%
  • Tippecanoe 0.62%
  • Indiana 0.74%

What Indiana publishes Homestead standard deduction: the amount drops each year (Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF), Form HC10)

Exemptions and deadlines in Indiana

Flood risk in Tippecanoe County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Tippecanoe County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.2%
632
Of those, with NFIP insurance
18%
County Indiana U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.2% 2.3% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 18% 17% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in West Lafayette

Typical rent in West Lafayette is $1,225 a month: 9% above the county. In West Lafayette, 73% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Tippecanoe County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,273 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $24.48 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Tippecanoe County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $942 $18.12 $37,680
1 bedroom $1,070 $20.58 $42,800
2 bedrooms $1,273 $24.48 $50,920
3 bedrooms $1,517 $29.17 $60,680
4 bedrooms $2,128 $40.92 $85,120

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in West Lafayette

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). West Lafayette has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,280 in 47907 to $1,350 in 47906.

2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Tippecanoe County ($1,273).

  • 47906 $1,350$1,610
  • 47907 $1,280$1,530

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for West Lafayette when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in West Lafayette

HUD lists 6 buildings with rents for lower incomes in West Lafayette. These are the largest.

  • Friendship House 1010 Cumberland Ave, West Lafayette 47906 150 low-income homes · For older adults (765) 463-9586
  • Richfield Apartments West Lafayette 2300 Yeager Rd, West Lafayette 47906 104 low-income homes · For families (765) 463-0645
  • Country Villa Apartments 3014 Fall Pl, West Lafayette 47906 92 low-income homes · For families (765) 463-0504
  • Chapelgate Park Apts 3151 Chapel Gate Way, West Lafayette 47906 80 low-income homes · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 32 · 3 bd: 24 · 4 bd: 8 · In service since 2009 · For people with disabilities, families, people experiencing homelessness
  • Friendship House North II 1008 Cumberland Ave, West Lafayette 47906 50 low-income homes · For older adults (765) 463-6399

See all 23 buildings in Tippecanoe County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in West Lafayette

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Tippecanoe County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A young man and a young woman look something up together on a laptop.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in West Lafayette

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for West Lafayette or Tippecanoe County. The ones below are statewide in Indiana: they work in West Lafayette the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Indiana

  • Next Home

    Statewide in Indiana

    Indiana state agency program with down payment assistance of 2.5% or 3.5% of the price, alongside a 30-year FHA or conventional mortgage. Offered by Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA).

    Type not stated

    See the program Official page

  • First Step

    Statewide in Indiana

    Indiana state agency 30-year FHA or conventional mortgage for first-time buyers (or homes in designated areas), with down payment assistance as a second mortgage with no interest or payments, repaid when the first mortgage ends. Offered by Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near West Lafayette

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of West Lafayette, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Habitat for Humanity of Greater Indianapolis

    3135 N Meridian St, Indianapolis · 60 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 2 more
    (317) 777-6084

  • Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership Homeownership Center at Glendale

    2960 N Meridian St, Indianapolis · 60 miles away

    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • Homebuyer education workshops
    (317) 610-4663

  • Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership

    2690 N Meridian St, Indianapolis · 60 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 2 more
    (317) 610-4663

All counseling agencies in Indiana

Help in Spanish near West Lafayette

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of West Lafayette

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Tippecanoe County is named for West Lafayette or Tippecanoe County.

One other authority has an office in Tippecanoe County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Tippecanoe County

These cities are also in Tippecanoe County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Tippecanoe County Housing in Indiana

Nearby cities

The cities closest to West Lafayette, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Tippecanoe County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in West Lafayette.

All guides
A mother holding her baby watches her daughter blow bubbles outdoors.

Questions

Housing questions about West Lafayette

Short answers with the numbers for West Lafayette and all of Tippecanoe County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in West Lafayette?

The typical home value in West Lafayette is $350,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Tippecanoe County it is $239,300.

How much does it cost to rent in West Lafayette?

Typical rent in West Lafayette is $1,225 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Tippecanoe County is $1,273.

What is the FHA loan limit in West Lafayette?

West Lafayette uses the FHA limit for all of Tippecanoe County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in West Lafayette?

The typical homeowner in West Lafayette pays $2,877 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.82% of the home’s value; in Tippecanoe County, the rate is 0.62%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in West Lafayette?

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Tippecanoe County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).