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Lafayette County

LA · Pop. 245,075 · Urban County

53/100Homestead Score

Lafayette Parish sits in Louisiana across 269 square miles, home to 245,075 people at 911.1 per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay, sugarcane, rice. A median home price of $234,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.57% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 9a with a 274-day growing season, average summer highs of 90.7°F and average winter lows of 42.3°F. Annual rainfall averages 61 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Louisiana Extended Care Hospital of Lafayette is 1 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 92.7% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.

Property Tax: 0.57%
Growing Season: 274 days
Broadband: 92.7%
Density: 911.1/sq mi

Pros

  • A long 274-day growing season in USDA zone 9a supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.57% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • Broadband reaches 92.7% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Louisiana Extended Care Hospital of Lafayette, with an emergency room, is just 1 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A low unemployment rate of 3.6% reflects a stable local job base.

Cons

  • Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
  • Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
  • Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
  • The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
  • At 911.1 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.

At a glance

Lafayette County, LA is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.

Homestead score
53/100
Median home price
$234k
Property tax
0.57%
Growing season
274 days (zone 9a)
Annual rainfall
61"
Broadband
92.7%
Nearest hospital
Louisiana Extended Care Hospital of Lafayette, 1 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.57%
Median Household Income$67,660
Poverty Rate17.4%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$234K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone9a
Growing Season274 days
Annual Rainfall61 inches
Avg Summer High90.7°F
Avg Winter Low42.3°F
Top CropsHay, Sugarcane, Rice

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought9/10
Wildfire6/10
Tornado7/10
Flood10/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalLouisiana Extended Care Hospital of Lafayette (1 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities18

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage92.7%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate3.6%
Ag EconomyWeak

Homesteading in Lafayette County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Lafayette Parish?
Lafayette Parish is in USDA hardiness zone 9a with a 274-day growing season, average summer highs of 90.7°F, and average winter lows of 42.3°F. The established crops are hay, sugarcane, rice.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $234,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.57%. Per-acre raw-land prices vary widely by parcel here, so check active listings for current rates.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 92.7% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Louisiana Extended Care Hospital of Lafayette is 1 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 18 hospitals in the county.

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Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.