Lafayette ranked 31 in Money.com’s 50 “Best Places to Live” in the U.S. For 2022's Best Places to Live list, towns and cities nationwide with a population of at least 20,000 were considered and selections were made based on quality of life, diversity, cost of living, economic opportunity, and education, among other factors. Money.com began as a financial print magazine 50 years ago and has been publishing the Best Places to Live list for 35 years.
“Lafayette is a great place to live and if you ask people what makes Lafayette special, it’s that warm and welcoming feeling. Our diverse community provides a sense of belonging and has a genuine character all its own,” said Fritz Sprague, Lafayette City Administrator. “It’s especially rewarding to know the Money.com editorial team took into consideration new data related to diversity, national heritage, and languages spoken at home to select this year’s recipients.”
money.com/best-places-to-live/lafayette-colorado/
Number: 31 Lafayette, Colorado
This Boulder County city boasts 20 parks and 20 miles of trails. Especially impressive is Waneka Lake Park, with awe-inspiring views of the Rockies, a reservoir for boating and a wildlife preserve beloved for birding.
Meanwhile, Old Town Lafayette is dotted with sculptures on loan from artists around the country and hosts cultural events like the monthly Art Night Out and annual festivals celebrating beer, peaches and even oatmeal.
You can reach all of this for free using the city’s on-demand transit program. Hail a ride between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. using the Ride Free Lafayette app or just hop aboard.
There’s a notable sustainability push in Lafayette, too. The public library has a free seed exchange program and there’s also a community garden that has plots available to rent. Several local farms are open to visitors and volunteers, and sell at nearby farmers' markets.
Like most U.S. cities, though, housing prices in Lafayette have increased. Its typical home now sells for about $606,000. However, apartment rentals haven’t changed as much: the median cost is around $2,000 for a one-bedroom or a couple hundred more for two. Still, the homeownership rate in Lafayette is higher than the national average at approximately 70%.