| City: | Lafayette, Ohio |
| City Alias: | Lima |
| County: | Allen County |
| Timezone: | Eastern (GMT -05:00) |
| Local Time: | 9:56:51 PM |
| Population: | 461 [See All] |
| Area Codes: | 419 / 567 |
| Classification: | PO Box |
| Coordinates: | 40.7587, -83.9490 |
| Land Area: | 0.384 sq mi |
| Quick Link: |
Lafayette is a small village in Allen County, Ohio, with 461 residents living across just 0.35 square miles. This compact community has 173 households and 197 total housing units. The village's historic character shows in the numbers: 84% of all housing was built before 1939 (165 units), making this one of Ohio's older communities with PO Box classification.
The Lafayette post office maintains 166 PO Boxes for 173 households, a 96% adoption rate that puts nearly every household in town relying on PO Box delivery. Despite the PO Box classification, the village has limited street delivery serving some addresses through one city route and one rural route. Most residents still use the post office rather than street addresses. This isn't a PO Box Only Zone, but the classification dates to before October 2004 and mail patterns haven't changed much since.
Street names tell the story of a traditional Midwest village. The numbered grid includes S High St (5 delivery points), S Washington St (4 points), and E Sugar St (3 points). Jefferson, Main, Church, Park, and Kentucky streets round out the classic small-town layout. With just 13 distinct street names and 40 street delivery records total, Lafayette maintains its historic footprint.
Median household income stands at $49,653, with per capita income of $27,512. The population skews working class: 21% work from home, but most commute to nearby jobs. The village sits close enough to Lima (accepted as a mailing alias) that residents can access larger-city amenities while keeping their small-town addresses. Median age is 37.1 years, younger than most rural Ohio communities.
Mail to Lafayette can use either the village name or Lima as the city name. Both are valid for mailing. Most addresses use PO Box format. Street delivery exists but coverage is limited.
Traditional small-town street grid with directional naming (N/S High St, E/W Sugar St) and classic Midwest street names like Jefferson, Church, and Kentucky.
ZIP Code 45854 has 461 residents and 173 households (average 2.66 persons per household). The median age is 37.1 years, slightly younger than the state (39.8) and slightly younger than the nation (38.8). The gender split is 48.8% male and 51.2% female, which is about the same as the national male share (49.1%), making this a female-majority area. Largest groups are White (96.5%, much higher than the state average of 77.0% and well above the national average of 61.6%) and Hispanic or Latino (2.6%); Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.6%, which is much lower than the national average (18.7%).
Explore More:Population Over TimeBy Age & GenderBy RaceBy GenderNativity & Citizenship
| 2020 Population: | 461Source: Census DHC |
| 2024 ACS Population Estimate: | 293Source: Census ACS |
| 2026 ZC Population Estimate: | 0Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Population Density: | 1,200.5 people per sq mile |
| Average Income: | $53,125Source: Census ACS |
| Households: | 173Source: Census DHC |
| Average House Value: | $121,300Source: Census ACS |
| Persons Per Household: | 2.66Source: Census DHC |
| Average Family Size: | 3.52Source: Census ACS |
| Group | 2010 | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Census ACS Population Estimate | -- | 367 | 477 | 478 | 510 | 492 | 452 | 433 | 459 | 458 | 387 | 382 | 359 | 339 | 293 |
| Decennial Census | 498 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 461 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Median Age: 37.1
Male Median Age: 37.2
Female Median Age: 36.5
| Group | < 5 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-19 | 20-24 | 25-29 | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-44 | 45-49 | 50-54 | 55-59 | 60-64 | 65-69 | 70-74 | 75-79 | 80-84 | 85+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 19 | 5 | 18 | 23 | 18 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 11 | 12 | 16 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 0 | 4 |
| Female | 9 | 15 | 21 | 26 | 15 | 8 | 17 | 18 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 28 | 12 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Total | 28 | 20 | 39 | 49 | 33 | 21 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 22 | 25 | 44 | 23 | 24 | 14 | 16 | 2 | 10 |
| White: | 445 | 96.32% |
| Black: | 5 | 1.08% |
| Hispanic:* | 12 | 2.60% |
| Asian: | 0 | 0% |
| American Indian: | 0 | 0% |
| Hawaiian: | 0 | 0% |
| Other: | 0 | 0% |
| Total: | 462 | 100% |
| Gender | Count | % | Median Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Males: | 225 | 48.81% | 37.2 years |
| Females: | 236 | 51.19% | 36.5 years |
| Total: | 461 | 100% | 37.1 years |
| Native, born in the United States: | 293 | 100.00% |
| Native, born in PR, Island Areas, or abroad: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Foreign born, naturalized U.S. citizen: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Foreign born, not a U.S. citizen: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total Population: | 293 | 100% |
| Total Native Population: | 293 | 100.00% |
| Total Foreign-born Population: | 0 | 0.00% |
In 2024, the Median household income is $53,125, which is well under the national median ($78,538), is up $10,170 (23.7%) since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $1,625. Family households earn a median of $80,625 versus $41,750 for nonfamily households (a difference of $38,875). By gender, male median income is $68,750 and female is $59,000, which is considerably higher than the national female median ($53,445), with a current gap of $9,750 that has stayed about the same from 2011 to 2024. The labor-force participation rate is 70.5%, which is above the national rate (63.5%). The unemployment rate is 12.9%, which is considerably above the national rate (5.2%). The largest occupation group is Service (25.9%).
Explore More:Income Over TimeHousehold IncomeEmployment StatusBy Occupation
| Income Type | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $42,955 | $33,750 | $35,000 | $32,098 | $32,173 | $40,000 | $39,766 | $44,286 | $51,500 | $46,563 | $45,804 | $49,063 | $49,653 | $53,125 |
| Median Family Income | $47,857 | $44,000 | $45,078 | $40,625 | $32,107 | $49,167 | $55,000 | $43,036 | $43,036 | $46,250 | $45,000 | $46,250 | $49,635 | $80,625 |
| Median NonFamily Income | $27,917 | $19,211 | $26,875 | $23,958 | $32,500 | $33,750 | $32,708 | $34,063 | $0 | $36,838 | $38,750 | $42,188 | $42,813 | $41,750 |
| Median Male Income | $40,341 | $35,750 | $37,292 | $42,708 | $0 | $40,313 | $43,438 | $41,932 | $45,179 | $43,750 | $46,818 | $53,194 | $70,000 | $68,750 |
| Median Female Income | $30,625 | $29,500 | $30,750 | $31,125 | $0 | $27,604 | $28,250 | $30,625 | $24,167 | $33,750 | $38,438 | $48,750 | $48,958 | $59,000 |
| Employed: | 135 | 61.36% |
| Unemployed: | 20 | 9.09% |
| Not In Labor Force: | 65 | 29.55% |
| Total: | 220 | 100% |
| Management, business, science, and arts: | 25 | 18.52% |
| Service: | 35 | 25.93% |
| Sales and Office: | 32 | 23.70% |
| Natural resources, construction, and maintenance: | 10 | 7.41% |
| Production, transportation, and material moving: | 33 | 24.44% |
| Total Civilian Employed Population: | 135 | 100% |
In 2024, the median home value is $121,300, which is well under the national median ($303,400), is up $33,400 (38.00%) since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $33,000. The median gross rent is $647, which is well under the national median ($1,348), is up $22 (3.52%) since 2011 and below its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $228. Of occupied housing, owners make up 77.60% (80.41% with a mortgage, 19.59% free-and-clear) and renters 22.40% - making this ZIP Code under national rental averages. The vacancy rate is 9.42%, which is markedly below the national rate (10.43%).
Explore More:Compare Home ValueHome Value Over TimeRent & Over TimeHousing Occupancy
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $87,900 | $96,300 | $87,400 | $84,600 | $90,000 | $86,100 | $83,200 | $87,500 | $88,300 | $89,800 | $95,500 | $106,300 | $121,700 | $121,300 |
| Less than $500: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $500 to $999: | 23 | 82.14% |
| $1,000 to $1,499: | 5 | 17.86% |
| $1,500 to $1,999: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $2,000 to $2,499: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $2,500 to $2,999: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $3,000 or more: | 0 | 0.00% |
| No Rent: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total: | 28 | 100% |
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Rent | $625 | $645 | $635 | $638 | $631 | $806 | $850 | $858 | $875 | $816 | $894 | $908 | $743 | $647 |
| Owner Occupied (with mortgage): | 78 | 62.40% |
| Owner Occupied (free and clear, no mortgage): | 19 | 15.20% |
| Renter Occupied: | 28 | 22.40% |
| Total Occupied Housing Units: | 125 | 100% |
| Occupied Housing Units: | 125 | 90.58% |
| Vacant Housing Units (not graphed): | 13 | 9.42% |
| Total Housing Units: | 138 | 100% |
| Single-Family Units: | 134 | 97.10% |
| Multi-Family Units: | 4 | 2.90% |
| Other Units: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total Housing Units: | 138 | 100% |
In 2024, 7.80% of adults (25+) have a bachelor's degree or higher, which is far lower than the national rate (35.00%). High school or higher is 98.50%, which is far higher than the national rate (89.40%). The uninsured rate is 3.80%, which is comparable to the national rate (8.60%). The share of people in poverty is 10.30%, which is comparable to the national rate (8.70%), down 0.30 percentage points since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by 6.30 percentage points. Poverty has been broadly stable, which may reflect structural barriers or offsetting gains and setbacks. Among residents ages 3+, the largest enrollment group is kindergarten (35.19%). College enrollment is 7.41%, which is far lower than the national rate (26.70%), indicating the community may be more oriented toward vocational/trade or direct-to-workforce opportunities.
Explore More:Educational AttainmentHealth InsurancePoverty Over TimeSchool Enrollment
| Less than 9th grade: | 0 | 0.00% |
| 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: | 3 | 1.47% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency): | 113 | 55.39% |
| Some college, no degree: | 44 | 21.57% |
| Associate's degree: | 28 | 13.73% |
| Bachelor's degree: | 11 | 5.39% |
| Graduate or professional degree: | 5 | 2.45% |
| Total: | 204 | 100% |
| High school or higher: | 201 | 98.53% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher: | 16 | 7.84% |
| Private Insurance: | 181 | 54.35% |
| Public Insurance: | 141 | 42.34% |
| No Insurance: | 11 | 3.30% |
| Total: | 333 | 100% |
| Has Health Insurance: | 322 | 96.70% |
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % of People in Poverty | 10.0% | 8.2% | 5.4% | 11.8% | 10.9% | 12.0% | 10.4% | 10.7% | 3.4% | 3.7% | 7.1% | 9.9% | 9.7% | 10.3% |
Note: Counts of Families & People in poverty are not published at the ZIP Code level due to small sample sizes. Percentages shown are survey estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS). They may differ from official poverty statistics. The U.S. Census Bureau defines poverty status by comparing a family's or individual's total income with federal poverty thresholds that vary by family size and composition.
| Nursery School, Preschool: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Kindergarten: | 19 | 35.19% |
| Elementary school (grades 1-8): | 19 | 35.19% |
| High school (grades 9-12): | 12 | 22.22% |
| College or graduate school: | 4 | 7.41% |
| Total: | 54 | 100% |
| Early Childhood: | 19 | 35.19% |
| K-12 (Primary & Secondary School): | 50 | 92.59% |
ZIP Code 45854 supports both business and residential activity. According to the Business Census (2024), there are 6 business establishments, employing about 30 people with an annual payroll of $770,000.
| # Residential Mailboxes: | 0Source: USPS |
| # Business Mailboxes: | 0Source: USPS |
| Total Delivery Receptacles: | 176Source: USPS |
| Single Family Delivery Units: | 0Source: USPS |
| Multi Family Delivery Units: | 0Source: USPS |
| # of Businesses: | 6Source: CBP |
| 1st Quarter Payroll: | $184,000Source: CBP |
| Annual Payroll: | $770,000Source: CBP |
| # of Employees: | 30Source: CBP |
ZIP Code 45854 is located in Allen County, Ohio, within the Lima, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 30620) and Ohio's 4th Congressional District. This Metro area has a population of 106,331 people, about 0.43% of whom live in ZIP Code 45854. It covers 0.384 sq mi of land and a water area of 0.01 sq mi.
| CBSA Name: | Lima, OHSource: Census |
| CBSA Number: | 30620Source: Census |
| CBSA Type: | MetroSource: Census |
| CBSA Division: | --Source: Census |
| CBSA Population: | 106,331Source: Census |
| MSA: | Lima, OH MSASource: Census |
| Land Area: | 0.384 sq miSource: Census |
| Water Area: | 0.01 sq miSource: Census |
| Congressional District: | 04Source: USPS |
| Congressional Land Area: | 4664.87 sq miSource: Census |
| PMSA: | --Source: Census |
| Intro Date: | < 2004-10Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Place FIPS Code: | 3941118Source: Census |
| Place Name: | Lafayette village; OhioSource: Census |
We could not locate which school district 45854 belongs to, but we will update this once new district data is released. There are no public schools nor private schools with a mailing address in this ZIP Code. Listing Nearby schools instead. It also has 6 colleges, universities or post secondary education institutions nearby which would be a short commute to.
Our sources include trusted federal and licensed data from the United States Postal Service, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Geological Survey, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the National Center for Education Statistics, along with proprietary datasets created by ZIP-Codes.com. Data last updated on March 1, 2026.