Known as the “Happiest City in America,” “Tastiest Town of the South” and a “ Top Music Mecca,” Lafayette is located in the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun and Creole region called Acadiana. Home to more than 235,000 people, Lafayette Parish is filled with history, cuisine, live music and local culture. Lafayette’s “work hard, play hard” attitude makes it a fun place to live and also a thriving place to do business. The number of entrepreneurs rivals that of local musicians in Lafayette, which has diversified its roots from oil and gas to technology, health care, construction and manufacturing.
A strategic location at the crossroads of interstates 10 and 49, a world-class workforce and an unmatched quality of life are just some of the reasons to reside in Lafayette. Realtor.com ranked the city second in its list of “10 Smaller Cities Poised to Skyrocket,” and Lafayette was selected as a top retirement destination by Where to Retire magazine. The city boasts the largest free, outdoor Francophone event in the U.S. known as Festival International de Louisiane, along with tons of other free festivals and community events, mild temperatures and some of the fastest internet in the world — giving it a metropolitan appeal.
Lafayette Regional Airport makes it convenient to travel both to and from Lafayette, while the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Ragin’ Cajun spirit is recognized around the world. Lafayette is also a regional health hub and home to several world-class hospitals and research and specialty treatment centers.
Louisiana is truly a “Sportsman’s Paradise,” and Lafayette, situated on the Vermilion River, has access to fishing, hunting, boating, golfing, kayaking, camping and more. The subtropical climate with 214 days of sunshine a year makes Lafayette an enjoyable place to live year-round. Affordable housing can be found in historic neighborhoods with sweeping oaks, planned neighborhood developments and more than 100 apartment complexes.
Residents can enjoy a consolidated government with more than 2,000 employees who work hard to make Lafayette the best community to live, work and play.
Recent Accolades
- Top Retirement Destination – Where to Retire magazine
- 10 Best Warm Weather Getaways – USA Today
- Top Music Mecca in the South – ConventionSouth
- Top 50 College Towns in America – College Rank
- 10 Smaller Cities Poised to Skyrocket – Realtor.com