Louisiana: What you need to know
Residents living in Louisiana enjoy a subtropical climate characterized by hot, humid summers and mild winters. Located on the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana provides a variety of outdoor recreation options from beaches and swamps to golf courses, hiking trails and bike paths. New Orleans, Lafayette, Lake Charles, LaPlace Kenner and Shreveport are among the best places to live in Louisiana. Top industries in Louisiana include petroleum and natural gas production, tourism, filmmaking and seafood, especially crawfish.
Courtesy of Susan C. Griffin under a CC 3.0 license.
8 Reasons to Move to Louisiana
Variety is the spice of Louisiana life and the Bayou State offers something for every appetite
Cajun state offers c'est bon living for cheap
Attractive cities include Lafayette, Lake Charles, Alexandria.
Discover what makes Southwest Louisiana a top spot to put down roots
Learn how Citgo, Sasol and liquified natural gas facilities shape the energy sector.
Read More About Louisiana
- Get ready to eat and drink your way through Louisiana (you'd better loosen your belt for this)
- Our lovely infographic breaks it all down, including some hidden taxes you may not be aware of.
- Breweries abound within a 100 miles of Baton Rouge, LA
- A list of the major employers in the Kennner, LA area.
- Shreveport offers an array of jobs across the occupation spectrum, from the military to medical centers
Featured Cities in Louisiana
Find a City in Louisiana
Search for any city in Louisiana to find your best place to live..Louisiana Profile
Quick Facts about LA
| Population | 4,625,253 |
| Latest Population Increase | 0.00% |
| Median Household Income | $45,047 |
| Median Home Price | $144,100 |
| Median Property Tax | $1,200 |
| Median Rent | $66 |
Employment Rate in LA
| Employed | 93.8% | |
| Unemployed | 6.2% |
Featured Cities/Population in LA
| Monroe, LA | 49,529 |
| Lafayette, LA | 124,982 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 229,186 |
| Pineville, LA | 14,455 |
| LaPlace, LA | 28,640 |
| Kenner, LA | 66,993 |
| Alexandria, LA | 47,985 |
| New Iberia, LA | 30,782 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 74,190 |
| Houma, LA | 33,982 |
Race in LA
| Ethnicity White | 62.8% | |
| Ethnicity Black | 32.1% | |
| Ethnicity Asian | 1.7% | |
| Ethnicity Hispanic | 4.7% | |
| Ethnicity Indian | 0.6% | |
| Ethnicity Other | 1% |
Employment Rate in LA
| Employed | 93.8% | |
| Unemployed | 6.2% |
Educational Levels in LA
| Bachelor's Degree | 14.8% | |
| Associate's Degree | 5.5% | |
| Graduate or Professional Degree | 7.7% | |
| High School Graduate | 33.9% | |
| Some College, No Degree | 21.4% | |
| Percent Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.5% | |
| Percent High School Graduate or Higher | 83.4% |
Industry in LA
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting and Mining | 4.7% |
| Construction | 8% |
| Manufacturing | 7.9% |
| Wholesale Trade | 2.6% |
| Retail Trade | 11.6% |
| Transportation and Warehousing, and Utilities | 5.2% |
| Information | 1.6% |
| Finance and Insurance, and Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 5.1% |
| Professional, Scientific and Management and Administrative and Waste | 8.8% |
| Educational Services and Health Care and Social Assistance | 23.4% |
| Arts, Entertainment and recreation and Accommodation and food Services | 10.3% |
| Other Services, Except Public Administration | 5.2% |
| Public Administration | 5.5% |
Housing in LA
| Homes Rent | 65.8% | |
| Homes Owned | 34.2% |
Data Sources : U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census, 2011-2015 American Community Survey, 2010 Census Gazetteer, GreatSchools, WalkScore, Bureau of Labor and Statistics, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service, Veterans Administration (VA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Louisiana Rankings
Best places to Live in Louisiana
| Title | Population | Median Home Price | Median Household Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 376,738 | $192,400 | $36,792 |
| Baton Rouge | 229,186 | $156,400 | $39,876 |
| Shreveport | 200,015 | $130,400 | $38,583 |
| Metairie | 142,715 | $215,900 | $52,421 |
| Lafayette | 124,982 | $173,900 | $46,517 |
| Lake Charles | 74,190 | $131,600 | $36,751 |
| Kenner | 66,993 | $170,800 | $47,527 |
| Bossier City | 66,093 | $150,200 | $47,342 |
| Monroe | 49,529 | $123,500 | $28,268 |
| Alexandria | 47,985 | $130,100 | $34,579 |
| Houma | 33,982 | $150,800 | $47,052 |
| Marrero | 31,738 | $127,200 | $34,419 |
| New Iberia | 30,782 | $105,100 | $39,061 |
| Prairieville | 29,721 | $218,800 | $95,807 |
| LaPlace | 28,640 | $160,900 | $55,286 |
| Central | 27,768 | $185,200 | $68,195 |
| Slidell | 27,567 | $152,600 | $51,958 |
| Terrytown | 24,910 | $159,700 | $43,363 |
| Ruston | 22,185 | $154,200 | $28,560 |
| Chalmette | 21,311 | $133,200 | $40,968 |