Best places to live in Louisiana
Cities and suburbs in Louisiana with 25,000+ people, scored against each other: affordability on a $75k salary after taxes and rent (35%), violent crime (30%), schools (20%) and job growth (15%).
| # | City | Score | Rent | Home | Schools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Charles, LA | 73/100 | $1,109/mo | $214k | 3.2/10 |
| 2 | Alexandria, LA | 57/100 | $931/mo | $184k | 2.8/10 |
| 3 | Baton Rouge, LA | 53/100 | $1,067/mo | $235k | 1.7/10 |
| 4 | Metairie, LA | 52/100 | $1,175/mo | $328k | 2.2/10 |
| 5 | Shreveport, LA | 51/100 | $987/mo | $179k | 1.8/10 |
| 6 | New Orleans, LA | 14/100 | $1,251/mo | $316k | 1.7/10 |
Rent, income and home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Taxes: 2026 federal and state rates for a single filer.
Compare the top 4