Lafayette metropolitan area, Louisiana


The Lafayette Metropolitan Statistical Area is a metropolitan area in the south central Acadiana region of Louisiana that covers five parishes. The five parishes include the original Lafayette and St. Martin parishes as well as Acadia, Iberia and Vermilion parishes, which were added in 2013. As of the 2010 census, the MSA had a population of 273,738. With the three added parishes, a 2015 estimate placed the population at 490,488. It is also part of the larger Lafayette-Acadiana Combined Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 616,113 in 2013.

Parishes

St. Landry Parish, Louisiana

Communities

As of the census of 2010, there were 273,738, 89,536 households, and 61,826 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.86% White, 25.46% African American, 0.28% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.56% of the population.
The median income for a household in the MSA was $33,610, and the median income for a family was $40,737. Males had a median income of $33,565 versus $20,558 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $16,495.

Politics

The area of Lafayette is politically conservative, however, it does not always vote Republican in elections.

Economy

The economy in the Lafayette area is mostly made up of healthcare and associated services, tourism, oil-related businesses, automotive sales, and the restaurant industry.