Town file
Lafayette, California
Lafayette, California (Contra Costa County, California) is the town in one episode of Small Town Murder, the comedy true-crime podcast: episode 712, "Murder In The Neighborhood" (26 June 2026).
- Town
- Lafayette
- County
- Contra Costa County
- State
- California
- Country
- USA
- Episodes
- 712
- Approximate location
- 37.891, -122.120
Episode 712 / 26 June 2026 / 77 min / express
Murder In The Neighborhood
"This is Lafayette, California... this is in Contracosta County" about 0:04:01
The case: Murder of Pamela Vitale (October 15, 2005). Read the case file.
The figures, as told in 2026
- Population
- 25,384
- Median household income
- $97,946
- Median home value
- $1,767,400
History, in brief
- Lafayette was named after the Marquis de Lafayette, a French military officer of the American Revolutionary War. about 0:05:46
- The name came together with the community's first post office in 1857, applied for by the owner and manager of a hotel and general store. about 0:05:59
- He first wanted to call the town Centerville, but California already had a Centerville. about 0:06:12
- His wife was from Lafayette, Indiana. about 0:06:42
- In 1857 the name was La Fayette, one word with a capital F. about 0:06:50
- In 1864 it was Lafayette, one word with a lower-case f. about 0:06:58
- Later it was made two words, La Fayette. about 0:07:09
- By 1905 it was back to two words. about 0:07:15
- In 1932 the post office was officially changed to one word, Lafayette, and it has stayed that way. about 0:07:19
The reviews read out
4.2 stars
"Not bad, and nothing in the reviews is under three stars; wealthy people with little to complain about."about 0:07:31
5 stars
"Likes every part of it, loves the schools and the lifestyle, and says everything is great."about 0:07:53
3 stars
"Went to school there from the age of seven; says being Caucasian in such a white rich community was tough at times, that people are not welcoming to outsiders, and that academics are excellent but extracurriculars are full of favouritism and pressure."about 0:08:27
Nearest Small Town Murder towns
- Terra Linda, California25 miles
- Burlingame, California25 miles
- Milpitas, California34 miles
- Antelope, California70 miles
- Grass Valley, California108 miles
- South Lake Tahoe, California136 miles
Everything here is as told in the episode, on the date it went out; figures and places may have changed since. Endings are covered: open an episode and use the spoiler switch to read them.