Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012)

This article, the twenty-fifth in a 50-state series, ranks the best places to live in Louisiana based on three criteria: (1) median household income (adjusted for cost of living); (2) educational attainment (% of residents 25 years and over who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher); and (3) property crime rates per 1,000 residents (burglary and automobile thefts). For purposes of these rankings, "places" are incorporated municipalities with populations greater than 2,000.

Among the twenty best places to live in Louisiana, six are suburbs of New Orleans, three comprise Baton Rouge and its suburbs, three are suburbs of Shreveport, three comprise Lafayette and its suburbs, one is a suburb of Alexandria, and one is an exurb of Lake Charles. By parish, four of the best places to live in Louisiana are located in St. Tammany Parish, three in or partially in Lafayette Parish, two in Caddo, East Baton Rouge, and Jefferson Parishes respectively, and one each in or partially in Ascension, Beauregard, Bossier, La Salle, Livingston, Rapides, St. Martin, and West Baton Rouge Parishes.

After reading "Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012)," return to this link to read "Largest Cities in Louisiana (2012)." A collection of similar articles for the remaining 49 states can be found at these links: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

For the culmination of the 50-state series, read "Best Places to Live in America (2012)."

This article may be updated if new data becomes available.

1. Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012) - Youngsville, LA (Lafayette Parish)

Population: 6,364

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $74,809
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 36.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.67*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Baton Rouge, LA: 68 miles NE
Lafayette, LA: 10 miles NNW

2. Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012) - Blanchard, LA (Caddo Parish)

Population: 2,511

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $73,188
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 24.6%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.14*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Baton Rouge, LA: 262 miles SE
Shreveport, LA: 11 miles SE

3. Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012) - Mandeville, LA (St. Tammany Parish)

Population: 12,031

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $62,428
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 41.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.88

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Baton Rouge, LA: 72 miles W
New Orleans, LA: 36 miles S

4. Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012) - Zachary, LA (East Baton Rouge Parish)

Population: 13,829

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $72,124
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 23.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.74

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Baton Rouge, LA: 15 miles S
Lafayette, LA: 72 miles SW

5. Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012) - Abita Springs, LA (St. Tammany Parish)

Population: 2,575

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $58,701
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 27.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.6*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Baton Rouge, LA: 72 miles W
New Orleans, LA: 44 miles S

6. Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012) - Brusly, LA (West Baton Rouge Parish)

Population: 2,575

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $59,181
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 19.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 0.0

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Baton Rouge, LA: 10 miles NNE
Lafayette, LA: 59 WSW

7. Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012) - Harahan, LA (Jefferson County)

Population: 9,405

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $61,322
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 21.7%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.68

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Baton Rouge, LA: 77 miles NW
New Orleans, LA: 11 miles ENE

8. Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012) - Covington, LA (St. Tammany Parish)

Population: 9,053

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $48,139
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 38.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 6.73

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Baton Rouge, LA: 66 miles W
New Orleans, LA: 43 miles S

9. Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012) - Lafayette, LA (Lafayette Parish)

Population: 114,918

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $52,057
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 33.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 16.15

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Baton Rouge, LA: 59 miles ENE

10. Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012) - Bossier City, LA (Bossier Parish)

Population: 61,782

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $54,654
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 22.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.34

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Baton Rouge, LA: 241 miles SE
Shreveport, LA: 2 miles NW

11. Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012) - Slidell, LA (St. Tammany Parish)

Population: 27,076
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): 52,242
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 23.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 10.46

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Baton Rouge, LA: 90 miles W
New Orleans, LA: 32 miles SW

12. Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012) - Broussard, LA (Lafayette and St. Martin Parishes)

Population: 7,628

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $66,230
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 22.0%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 21.57

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Baton Rouge, LA: 65 miles ENE
Lafayette, LA: 7 miles NNW

13. Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012) - Denham Springs, LA (Livingston Parish)

Population: 10,233

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $58,468
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 22.4.%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 17.41

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Baton Rouge, LA: 13 miles W
Lafayette, LA: 72 miles WSW

14. Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012) - Greenwood, LA (Caddo Parish)

Population: 2,685

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $42,801
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 18.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 1.14*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Baton Rouge, LA: 257 miles SE
Shreveport, LA: 16 miles NE

15. Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012) - Kenner, LA (Jefferson Parish)

Population: 67,841

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $56,375
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 20.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 9.13

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Baton Rouge, LA: 69 miles NW
New Orleans, LA: 13 miles ESE

16. Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012) - De Ridder, LA (Beauregard Parish)

Population: 9,999

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $48,278
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 21.3%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 5.68

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Baton Rouge, LA: 148 ESE
Lake Charles, LA: 48 S

17. Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012) - Pineville, LA (Rapides Parish)

Population: 14,512

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $41,308
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 20.9%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.6*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Baton Rouge, LA: 116 miles SE
Alexandria, LA: 1 mile SW

18. Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012) - Jena, LA (La Salle Parish)

Population: 2,852

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $39,984
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 20.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 2.29*

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Baton Rouge, LA: 140 miles SSE
Lafayette, LA: 37 miles SSW

19. Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012) - Gonzales, LA (Ascension Parish)

Population: 9,050

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $49,308
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 16.5%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 3.14

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Baton Rouge, LA: 22 miles NNW
New Orleans, LA: 58 miles ESE

20. Best Places to Live in Louisiana (2012) - Baton Rouge, LA (East Baton Rouge Parish)

Population: 225,388

Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $40,258
Bachelor's degree or higher (25 years and over): 32.4%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 23.29

Distance to Familiar Cities:

Lafayette, LA: 59 miles WSW
New Orleans, LA: 81 miles SE

*In some cases, municipalities either do not report their crime statistics to the FBI or they contract for services with a county law enforcement agency. For those towns, crime rates are extrapolated from county or contiguous municipality data.

Source(s):

"All Cities in Louisiana," City-Data.com
"American Community Survey," U.S. Census Bureau
"American Fact Finder," U.S. Census Bureau
"Uniform Crime Report," Federal Bureau of Investigation