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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Lafayette, LA has a Safety Score of 3/100 — higher crime than 97% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 5,413.6 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,872 of 2,957 US cities and #21 of 25 in Louisiana.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Lafayette, LA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Lafayette, Louisiana Safe?
Lafayette, at the heart of Acadiana, is a vibrant hub of Cajun and Creole culture, known for its lively music and food scene. Situated along the Vermilion River, it's the most populous city in the Lafayette metropolitan area.
Lafayette has a safety score of 3/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 5,413.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Lafayette ranks #21 out of 25 cities in Louisiana and #2872 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 3rd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 97% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Lafayette is aggravated assault, at 948.4 per 100K — 2.8x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.7x the national rate.
Year over year, Lafayette's total crime rate decreased by 0.1%, with violent crime rising 30.3%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Lafayette Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 1,295 | 1,066.1 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 18 | 14.8 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 41 | 33.8 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 84 | 69.2 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 1,152 | 948.4 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 5,281 | 4,347.5 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 803 | 661.1 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 3,921 | 3,227.9 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 557 | 458.6 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Lafayette vs Louisiana Average
How does Lafayette's crime rate compare to the Louisiana state average?
| Metric | Lafayette | Louisiana Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,066.1 | 941.0 | +13.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,347.5 | 3,691.6 | +17.8% |
| Murder Rate | 14.8 | 16.8 | -11.8% |
| Total Crime Rate | 5,413.6 | 4,632.6 | +16.9% |
Lafayette Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Lafayette, Louisiana.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 121,471 | 5,413.6 | 1,066.1 | 4,347.5 |
| 2023 | 121,361 | 5,421.0 | 818.2 | 4,602.8 |
| 2022 | 121,546 | 4,866.5 | 478.8 | 4,387.6 |
| 2021 | 127,010 | 4,055.6 | 485.8 | 3,569.8 |
| 2020 | 126,679 | 5,081.4 | 562.1 | 4,519.3 |
| 2019 | 126,694 | 4,829.8 | 524.9 | 4,304.9 |
Lafayette Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Lafayette and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Louisiana crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lafayette, Louisiana safe?
Lafayette has a safety score of 3/100, meaning it has less crime than about 3% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 5,413.6 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Lafayette is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Lafayette, Louisiana?
According to FBI data for 2024, Lafayette has a violent crime rate of 1,066.1 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 4,347.5 per 100,000 residents.
How does Lafayette compare to the national average?
Lafayette's total crime rate of 5,413.6 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 121,471 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Lafayette?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Lafayette are larceny-theft (3,921 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (1,152 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 4.1x in the city.
Is Lafayette safe to visit?
Like any city, Lafayette has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 3/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.