| | West Lafayette, IN | Santa Cruz, CA | United States |
| Population | 44,515 | 62,714 | 329,725,481 |
| Female Population | 44.9% | 50.9% | 50.5% |
| Male Population | 55.1% | 49.1% | 49.5% |
| Median Age | 21.5 | 29 | 38.4 |
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| Population - 2010 | 42,055 | 60,593 | 309,327,143 |
| Population - 2000 | 28,778 | 54,593 | 285,036,114 |
| Population - 1990 | 25,907 | 49,040 | 251,960,433 |
| Pop. 2000 to Now | 79.3% | 17.8% | 15.6% |
| Pop. 1990 to Now | 99.2% | 31.2% | 30.8% |
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| Population Density | 3,277.7 | 4,922.6 | 93.4 |
| Land Area | 13.6 | 12.7 | 3,531,905.4 |
| Water Area | 0.2 | 3.1 | 264,836.8 |
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| Est. Total Population By Age | | | |
| | West Lafayette, IN | Santa Cruz, CA | United States |
| Age 0 to 4 | 2.2% | 3.1% | 5.9% |
| Age 5 to 9 | 1.9% | 3.3% | 6.1% |
| Age 10 to 14 | 2.6% | 3.5% | 6.6% |
| Age 15 to 17 | 1.9% | 2.6% | 3.9% |
| Age 18 to 20 | 35.9% | 17.7% | 4.0% |
| Age 21 to 24 | 25.7% | 13.9% | 5.2% |
| Age 25 to 34 | 8.9% | 12.7% | 13.8% |
| Age 35 to 44 | 5.2% | 10.2% | 12.9% |
| Age 45 to 54 | 4.7% | 10.5% | 12.6% |
| Age 55 to 59 | 2.5% | 5.1% | 6.7% |
| Age 60 to 64 | 1.9% | 5.0% | 6.3% |
| Age 65 to 74 | 3.2% | 8.3% | 9.6% |
| Age 75 to 84 | 1.5% | 2.7% | 4.5% |
| Age 85 and over | 2.1% | 1.4% | 1.9% |
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| Race | | | |
| | West Lafayette, IN | Santa Cruz, CA | United States |
| White | 66.1% | 60.8% | 59.4% |
| Black | 3.7% | 1.8% | 12.2% |
| Asian | 21.8% | 10.6% | 5.6% |
| Native American | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.6% |
| Hawaiian, Pacific Islander | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Other | 0.4% | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| Two or More Races | 3.4% | 5.1% | 3.2% |
| Hispanic | 4.3% | 21.1% | 18.4% |
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| Marriage & Family | | | |
| | West Lafayette, IN | Santa Cruz, CA | United States |
| Married Population | 21.1% | 31.9% | 49.8% |
| Currently Married | 20.6% | 30.8% | 48.0% |
| Married but Separated | 0.5% | 1.1% | 1.8% |
| Single Population | 78.9% | 68.1% | 50.2% |
| Never Married | 73.9% | 57.2% | 33.8% |
| Divorced | 2.1% | 8.7% | 10.8% |
| Widowed | 2.9% | 2.2% | 5.6% |
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| Household Size | 2.18 | 2.37 | 2.60 |
| Households | 13,588 | 22,067 | 124,010,992 |
| Family Households | 4,506 | 10,409 | 80,755,759 |
| Married couple, w/children | 35.9% | 29.8% | 30.5% |
| Married couple, no children | 47.3% | 48.8% | 42.9% |
| Non Family Households | 9,082 | 11,658 | 43,255,233 |
| Single householder, w/children | 9.3% | 13.2% | 15.8% |
| Single householder, no children | 7.5% | 8.2% | 10.8% |