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D

Is Lafayette, Indiana Safe?

Population 71,238 · Safer than 20% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Lafayette has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D safety grade reflects a violent crime rate below the national average and an overall rate of 256.2 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,950 per 100K.

Lafayette Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricLafayetteIndiana AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate255.4309.2363.8
Property Crime Rate2306.72091.51,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate190.0--268.2
Theft Rate1950.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate474.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD

256.2 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

255/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2307/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Lafayette

Violent crime in Lafayette is below the national average. The rate of 255.4 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2306.7 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,950 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Lafayette Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault190
071% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery37
058% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary319
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,950
01.4x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft474
01.5x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Lafayette Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Lafayette
255.4
State
309.2
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Lafayette
2306.7
State
2091.5
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lafayette Safety

Is Lafayette safe?
Not especially. Lafayette earns a D with a crime rate of 256.2 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Lafayette?
256.2 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 255.4 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2306.7 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Lafayette safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Lafayette's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,950 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Lafayette?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Lafayette generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Lafayette police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Lafayette?
No. Crime in Lafayette has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does Lafayette compare to other cities in Indiana?
Below average for the state. Lafayette ranks behind about 89% of Indiana cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Lafayette to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Lafayette?
Bad. A D grade and 256.2 per-thousand rate put Lafayette below 80% of US cities. Violent crime at 255 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Lafayette?
255.4 per 100,000, which is 30% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (190), robbery (37), and murder (4.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Indiana

Similar-sized communities in Indiana. Compare crime rates across the state.

D+
See crime rates in Greenwood69,349 pop · Grade D+
C-
See crime rates in Gary67,289 pop · Grade C-
D-
See crime rates in Hammond75,712 pop · Grade D-
C-
See crime rates in Noblesville76,111 pop · Grade C-
C
See crime rates in Westfield66,258 pop · Grade C
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See crime rates in Muncie65,466 pop · Grade D
View all Indiana city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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