The typical owner-occupied home in West Lafayette is worth about $350,000, 60% above the Indiana median of $218,200 and 5% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,877 a year in property taxes, about 0.82% of their home's value, higher than the Indiana rate of 0.74%. The median household earns $34,891 a year, so the median home costs 10.0 times the median income (3.0 times for Indiana). 29% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 61% of those owners still have a mortgage.
West Lafayette at a glance
| West Lafayette | Indiana | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $350,000 | $218,200 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,877 | $1,614 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.82% | 0.74% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $34,891 | $71,957 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 29% | 71% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 61% | 64% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,802 | $1,404 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 16.1% | 18.1% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,225 | $1,062 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 51.0% | 29.1% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1992 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 10.5% | 8.8% | 10.1% |
| Population | 45,159 | 6,851,073 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in West Lafayette
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median West Lafayette home of $350,000 with 20% down costs about $2,269 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,852, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.
Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $97,225 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 78% of the median West Lafayette household income of $34,891; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $126,000.
The median rent here is $1,225 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,044 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $70,000 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $280,000 |
| Principal and interest | $1,884 |
| Property taxes (0.82% a year) | $239 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $146 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,269 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $12,250 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $343,661 |
| Principal and interest | $2,312 |
| Property taxes (0.82% a year) | $239 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $146 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $155 |
| Total per month | $2,852 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in West Lafayette
What is the median home value in West Lafayette?
About $350,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in West Lafayette?
Homeowners pay a median $2,877 a year, which is about 0.82% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.
What income do you need to buy a home in West Lafayette?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,269 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $97,225 a year.
More about West Lafayette
- Mortgage Refinance in West Lafayette
- Debt Relief in West Lafayette
- Home Equity Loans in West Lafayette
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data