Real Estate Investing in Lafayette, Louisiana (70501)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Lafayette Parish • Population: 26,956 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 70501 (Lafayette, LA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (53/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
STRONG
4.0 / 5 (81/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
5 flags
  • High vacancy: 14.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -4.2% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Elevated poverty: 28.0% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Higher unemployment: 7.0% unemployment — tenant risk signal.

What’s happening in Lafayette, LA (70501)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
4.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $106,340
Avg Monthly Rent $1,090
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $30,378
% Renters 54.6%

Market Analysis: 70501 Lafayette

The 70501 ZIP shows an notable value-add profile — below-median pricing at $106K, a renter base of 55%, and room for operational improvement.

Cap rate math of 0.0% understates the return here. Post-rehab, stabilized yields climb, and the 70501 ZIP's older housing stock gives operators the opportunity set to execute.

Comparing Lafayette submarkets, ZIP 70501 offers an entry cost that most surrounding neighborhoods have moved past. The significant delta is the opportunity.

The resident base in 70501 runs younger and more tenure-renter than county averages. 55% of 26,956 households lease, which is the demand source for post-rehab rent lifts.

BRRRR is the most natural fit. Buy under $106K, rehab, refinance, and the capital recycles in a way turnkey markets cannot replicate.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Lafayette:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
0/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.5× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-1.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,090/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Lafayette, LA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
77 days
Average time to sell
Slow
8.6%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Lafayette, LA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$160K$148K$136K$124K$113K$101KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,107$1,057$1,008$958$909$859Mar 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 70501 Compare?

Metric 70501 Lafayette Lafayette, LA Louisiana
Home Value $106,340 $92,852 N/A $207,909
5-Year CAGR N/A 0.3% N/A 0.7%
Avg Rent $1,090 $1,295 N/A -
Cap Rate 8.0% 5.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 70501? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $1,090/mo on homes averaging $106,340 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 4/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

55% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 70501 (Lafayette, LA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 70501 (Lafayette, LA)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
8.0%
Good
5yr Growth
-4.2%
Declining

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Lafayette, LA metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
53%
Days Pending
2/2
77 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $106,340
Monthly Rent $1,090
Price-to-Rent 8.1:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 12.3%
Cap Rate 8.0%
5-Year IRR 3.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -1.5% ▼
3-Year CAGR -6.1% ▼
5-Year CAGR -4.2% ▼
10-Year CAGR -2.5% ▼

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +2.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 8.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (8.0%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
14.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-4.2%
Declining
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 70501

Population: 26,956

💰 Median Household Income
$30,378
This area
$30,378
State
$55,539
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
54.6%
This area
54.6%
State
27.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
7.0%
This area
7.0%
State
-18.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.9%
This area
15.9%
State
-4.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.0 years
This area
37.0 years
State
-6.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.7%
This area
14.7%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 73.7%
White 21.4%
Other/Mixed 4.5%
Hispanic/Latino 2.9%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
21.8%
This area
21.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.2%
This area
16.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
28.0%
This area
28.0%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 70501

B Avg School Grade
9 Schools
15.4:1 Avg Class Size
$13,713 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Alice N. Boucher Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
425 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,877 Per Student
B+ Above Average

J.W. Faulk Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
430 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,877 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Paul Breaux Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
633 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,877 Per Student
B+ Above Average
👥
291 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,877 Per Student
B Good

Northside High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
727 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,877 Per Student
C+ Average

Willow Charter Academy

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
613 Students
👨‍🏫
18.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,403 Per Student
C+ Average

David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
1,366 Students
👨‍🏫
20.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,877 Per Student
C+ Average
👥
177 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,877 Per Student
C+ Average

W. D. & Mary Baker Smith Career Center

📚 08 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$13,877 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 2,810 Off-Campus Students
C
Infinity College
104 students · 0.9 mi
C+
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
15,345 students · 2.5 mi
C
Academy of Interactive Entertainment
113 students · 3.4 mi
D
Blue Cliff College-Lafayette
217 students · 3.7 mi
C
Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute-Lafayette
134 students · 3.8 mi
C
South Louisiana Community College
5,887 students · 3.8 mi
C
Unitech Training Academy-Lafayette
259 students · 6.3 mi
C
Cosmetology Training Center
101 students · 6.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,810 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are homes affordable in Lafayette, LA?

Lafayette, LA median home values land near $106K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,090/mo-per-month rentals.

Is the 1% rule achievable in Lafayette, LA?

With $1,090/mo rents against $106K home prices, Lafayette, LA produces a 1.02% ratio. That is reasonable proximity to the 1% threshold.

Is Lafayette, LA suited for a house hack?

For house hackers, Lafayette, LA is an attractive. The $1,090/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $106K property.

Can investors BRRRR in Lafayette, LA?

Lafayette, LA BRRRR deals are a strong. With proper buy-side discipline, operators can recycle most of their capital post-refinance.

What is the smart move for investors in Lafayette, LA?

Most investors in Lafayette, LA run a value-add and BRRRR deals strategy. It aligns with the 4.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

You know 70501 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 70501 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

Compare Plans

How 70501 ranks in Lafayette, LA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 70501 (Lafayette)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 70501 (Lafayette, LA).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.