LAMap-doton-Gardere, 2004
Gardere’s story
Gardere in pictures
Census counts: 7,209 in 1990, 13,203 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2004 and 7 maps from 1908 on.
Explore the history →GardereLA
Some 12,223 people live in this town, in Louisiana.
Population
12,223
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$243K
Census ACS
Household income
$55K
median
Median age
25.8
years
Jobs based here
1,207
A commuter town
TownGrade
C−
#95 of 161 in LA
Is Gardere a good place to live?
Gardere’s grades cluster near the middle. Cost of living is its weak spot: the typical home is worth about $243K, 3.5 years of the Baton Rouge metro’s $70K median household income. Walkability is its strong suit — it is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 69% of U.S. towns. Put together, the subjects come to a C− overall, ranking 95th of 161 in Louisiana. That leaves it better than just over a fifth of U.S. towns. On the outdoors, just 10 of Louisiana’s 255 towns do better. This Louisiana town has 1 place on the National Register. 35% of residents live below the poverty line locally, against 20% in Louisiana’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns.
Figures: home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · USGS PAD-US · National Register of Historic Places.
A growing town
Gardere has grown 25% from 2010 to 2020
10,580 counted in 2010 and 13,203 in 2020.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts
How Gardere grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Louisiana), ordered by how far Gardere is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.5 of 20; 15.3% of households have no car; 6.4% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →Jobs & income1,207 jobs based hereCOpen →Cost of livingBehind most towns comparedCOpen →HealthLess healthy than 67% of U.S. towns; Baton Rouge General Medical Center 3.2 miles awayCOpen →Hazard riskInland flooding tops the listB−Open →SchoolsBased on how pupils do in exams and testsB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 23 attractions →Tiger Stadium and 13 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Gardere. Close and well known come first.
5 mi Stadium & arenaTiger Stadium
7 mi MuseumUSS Kidd
5 mi Stadium & arenaPete Maravich Assembly Center
36 mi MuseumWhitney Plantation Historic District7 mi Theme parkBlue Bayou and Dixie Landin'4 mi MuseumLSU Rural Life MuseumSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Tiger Stadium: Daniel Foster, CC BY-SA 2.0 · USS Kidd: Cobatfor, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Pete Maravich Assembly Center: Spatms, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Whitney Plantation Historic District: Bill Leiser, CC BY-SA 4.0
_at_Baton_Rouge,_Louisiana_(USA),_on_26_August_1988.jpg){kind=link}
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Getting set up
Moving to Gardere: who provides what
Gardere is unincorporated, so East Baton Rouge Parish and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerDixie Electric Membership13.5¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterBaton Rouge Water CompanyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet4 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesEast Baton Rouge ParishEast Baton Rouge Parish provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Louisiana you can register online until 20 days before Election Day, in person until 30 days before Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereE Baton Rouge Parish Registrar of VotersEast Baton Rouge Parish; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP codes70810, 7082070810 52% · 70820 48%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Aug 3, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Gardere.
Gardere carries less natural-hazard risk than most of Louisiana (mostly inland flooding), has less cancer than most of Louisiana and has milder winter nights than nearly all U.S. towns.
Work & commuteJobs & income grade C
About two in five of Gardere’s working residents commute to Baton Rouge
Gardere has 1,207 jobs for its 4,386 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out.
Among 161 Louisiana towns, just 7 have a lower share of working residents who work in town than Gardere. The town’s typical household income comes in at $55,000. The top destinations are Baton Rouge (41%), New Orleans (4%) and Lafayette (2%).
1%work in town
| Gardere | Louisiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 35% | 20% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 1.3% | 9.8% | 8% |
| Average trip to work | 28 minutes | 24 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Median household income | $55,000 | $56,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Gardere1%
Baton Rouge41%
New Orleans4%
Lafayette2%
Metairie2%
7 mi
median commute distance
1,207
jobs based in Gardere
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 69% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
SchoolsB−
On state tests, Gardere’s schools beat 53% of Louisiana districts
Two of the 4 schools are below, and why each made the list. The largest public high school is IDEA Innovation, with 797 students. Public schools: the East Baton Rouge Parish school district.
53%of LA districts it outscoresB−School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Baton Rouge Charter AcademyLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 819 | D |
| IDEA InnovationLargest public high schoolGrades K–12 | Grades K–12 | 797 | D |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within LA on state tests and graduation
Who lives here
The median age in Gardere is lower than in most of Louisiana or the rest of the country
35.3% of residents live below the poverty line, against 18.9% across Louisiana, which weighs on its C for jobs and income. Only 43% of households own their home, against 67.4% across Louisiana.
Of the 161 Louisiana towns we compare, none has a lower share of residents 65 or older than Gardere. Among residents here, 33% are under 18. Adults 18 to 34 are just over a third of residents (22% statewide); adults 35 to 64 are 26% of residents (37% statewide). A bachelor’s degree or higher: 31% of adults 25 and older, vs 27% across Louisiana.
25.8median age · LA 38
| Gardere | Louisiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 25.8 years | 37.9 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 33% | 24% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 5.9% | 17% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 31% | 20% | 29% |
GardereLouisianaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
22%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma13%
High school32%
Some college19%
Associate’s5%
Bachelor’s17%
Graduate14%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±4.4 points. Across Louisiana, 51.1% of residents are women.
| Gardere | LA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 22.4% | 12.6% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.4% | 10.9% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 15.6% | 9.1% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 19.5% | 13.3% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 10.1% | 13.3% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 8.5% | 11.5% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 7.6% | 12.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 4.2% | 10.2% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 1.6% | 6.5% | 7% |
| No diploma | 12.9% | 12.7% | 10.4% |
| High school | 32.3% | 32.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 18.8% | 20.4% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 5.3% | 7.3% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 16.5% | 17% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 14.3% | 10.1% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HealthC
Fewer of Gardere’s adults had a checkup this year than in the typical Louisiana or U.S. town
Its widest gap with Louisiana is cancer: 3% of its 9,489 adults have had cancer, against 7.5% statewide. Against the 7,542 U.S. towns with household incomes like Gardere’s, it is healthier than 59%, so its C isn’t only a matter of income.
Gardere beats the Louisiana average on 9 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 12. For adults 18 to 64 here, the share who have no health insurance is 12%. Among 161 Louisiana towns, just 3 have a lower share of adults who have high blood pressure than Gardere. Two figures for adults in the town: 31% worry about having enough food, 40% feel lonely.
33%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade
| Gardere | Louisiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 46% | 42% | 36% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 26% | 14% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 40% | 37% | 33% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 22% | 20% | 17% |
32 measures vs. Louisiana
9 better11 too close to call12 worse
| What stands out | Gardere | LA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 3% | 7.5% |
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 4% | 7.5% |
| More adults facing a utility shut-off | 18.6% | 12.4% |
Baton Rouge General Medical Center
3.2 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: dental, mental health
79th
percentile among LA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Climate
Gardere: mild winters and hot summers
January nights average 41.1°, milder than in 95% of U.S. towns; July afternoons average 91.5°.
Snow almost never falls. Its midsummer high stands at 92°F.
92°summer high
| Gardere | Louisiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| January low | 41°F | 42°F | 22°F |
| July high | 92°F | 92°F | 85°F |
Typical low → high °F
Winter43–64°
Spring57–79°
Summer72–91°
Fall58–80°
Nov 26
typical first frost
Feb 28
typical last frost
+0.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
92°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
OutdoorsB
Open space protected for good: 14% of Gardere
Walkers can cover 0.7 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves. Only 3 of the 123 Louisiana towns we compare have a higher share of conserved land than Gardere. Parks and preserves in the town: 2, covering 34 acres.
14%conserved
| Gardere | Louisiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 14% | 1.2% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.2 miles per square mile | 0.2 | 0.4 |
14%
conserved · 299 of 2,130 acres
0.7 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hartley/Vey at Gardere | 0.6 mi | 17 |
| 2. Ben Burge Park | 0.1 mi | 17 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HousingCost of living grade C
A home in Gardere sells for about $267K at the median
Homes sold in Gardere spent a median 21 days on the market. In Gardere, 43% of households are owner-occupiers. Also worth knowing: the typical rent for Gardere comes to $1,157 a month.
$267Kmedian sale price
| Gardere | Louisiana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 43% | 68% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,157 a month | $989 a month | $1,185 a month |
Market temperature
21
days on market
96.2%
sale-to-list price
16
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B−
Top of a moderate hazard risk in Gardere: inland flooding
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk lower than 76% of Louisiana towns, with expected losses of about $377 per resident a year; that rating is what its B− for hazard risk is built on.
89 flood insurance claims have been paid in Gardere since 2001. In Gardere, the FEMA risk score is 50 of 100. Of the losses FEMA expects in the town, 27% come from inland flooding and 26% from tornadoes.
50risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingTornadoesHurricanes
89
paid flood claims since 2001
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Gardere
17pages on Gardere
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
6 within 15 miles of the center of Gardere
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Baton Rouge3.3 mi$18,310 tuitionLouisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeUniversity or college · Public · Baton Rouge4.7 mi$11,954 in-state tuitionBaton Rouge Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Baton Rouge6.2 mi$4,321 in-state tuition
About 11 of every 100 Gardere residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Louisiana.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Gardere for work
Where Gardere’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,207jobs based in Gardere
1%of working residents work in town
7 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Gardere
Census-designated place in Louisiana, United States
Gardere is an unincorporated area and census-designated place (CDP) in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, United States. The area is also known as Riverland. As of the 2020 census, Gardere had a population of 13,203. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 3.3 sq mi
- Elevation
- 2,300 ft
Gardere’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Gardere.
Baton RougeSt. GeorgeGardere
How the neighbors grade
| Town | LA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gardere | #95 | C− | C | — | B− | C |
| Baton Rouge | #105 | C− | C+ | — | B− | C− |
| St. George | — | — | — | — | B− | — |
Gardere, Baton Rouge and St. George report no FBI crime data of their own. St. George isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Gardere with a neighbor →
Questions about Gardere
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Gardere, LA a good place to live?
Gardere grades C− overall, better than 22% of U.S. towns and #95 of 161 in Louisiana. It grades C for health and B− for schools.
Is Gardere, LA expensive?
The typical home is worth about $243,000, 14% above the Louisiana typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.