#1Welsh
Jefferson Davis Parish · 3,286 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 2.4 years of area income·Overall B+ · #8 of 161 in LA
Welsh, #1 on this list · Photo: Larry D. Moore · CC BY 4.0Louisiana rankings · Cost of living
Most affordable towns in Louisiana
Welsh ranks first on cost of living among Louisiana’s 161 towns of 2,500+; 32 of the 161 grade A− or better on cost of living nationally.
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). How grades work
#1A+
#2Lake Arthur
Jefferson Davis Parish · 2,569 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 1.5 years of area income·Overall B+ · #5 of 161 in LA
#3Chauvin
unincorporated, Terrebonne Parish · 2,502 peopleCost of living grade, homes cost 1.7 years of area income·Overall C · #73 of 161 in LA
All 161 towns
Cost of living grade, best first (the letter is national). Towns with the same score share a rank; the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
161 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeHome price · overall
3Chauvinunincorporated, Terrebonne Parish · 2,502 peopleA+1.7 years of area income·Overall C · #73 of 161
7Laroseunincorporated, Lafourche Parish · 5,515 peopleA2.2 years of area income·Overall C+ · #41 of 161
8Racelandunincorporated, Lafourche Parish · 9,585 peopleA2.7 years of area income·Overall B− · #33 of 161
10Cut Offunincorporated, Lafourche Parish · 5,398 peopleA2.0 years of area income·Overall B− · #39 of 161
12Gallianounincorporated, Lafourche Parish · 5,906 peopleA1.6 years of area income·Overall C+ · #44 of 161
13Lacombeunincorporated, St. Tammany Parish · 6,310 peopleA2.7 years of area income·Overall B− · #38 of 161
25Grayunincorporated, Terrebonne Parish · 5,154 peopleA−3.6 years of area income·Overall C · #68 of 161
33Hahnvilleunincorporated, St. Charles Parish · 3,520 peopleB+4.4 years of area income·Overall B · #13 of 161
34Schrieverunincorporated, Terrebonne Parish · 6,690 peopleB+3.4 years of area income·Overall C+ · #51 of 161
37Chackbayunincorporated, Lafourche Parish · 5,436 peopleB+3.4 years of area income·Overall B− · #27 of 161
43Bayou Blueunincorporated, Lafourche Parish · 12,218 peopleB+3.0 years of area income·Overall C− · #96 of 161
45Bayou Caneunincorporated, Terrebonne Parish · 21,253 peopleB+2.9 years of area income·Overall C+ · #45 of 161
50Avondaleunincorporated, Jefferson Parish · 4,608 peopleB2.2 years of area income·Overall D · #140 of 161
54Brownsvilleunincorporated, Ouachita Parish · 4,357 peopleB1.4 years of area income·Overall C · #61 of 161
55Violetunincorporated, St. Bernard Parish · 4,122 peopleB2.7 years of area income·Overall C− · #97 of 161
57South Vacherieunincorporated, St. James Parish · 2,954 peopleB3.7 years of area income·Overall B · #14 of 161
61Merauxunincorporated, St. Bernard Parish · 7,918 peopleB3.8 years of area income·Overall B− · #37 of 161
64Bridge Cityunincorporated, Jefferson Parish · 7,297 peopleB1.5 years of area income·Overall C− · #108 of 161
66Bawcomvilleunincorporated, Ouachita Parish · 2,804 peopleB1.2 years of area income·Overall C · #81 of 161
73Reserveunincorporated, St. John the Baptist Parish · 7,791 peopleB2.7 years of area income·Overall D− · #148 of 161
75Bayou Vistaunincorporated, St. Mary Parish · 3,842 peopleB2.8 years of area income·Overall C− · #104 of 161
80Prienunincorporated, Calcasieu Parish · 7,119 peopleB−4.2 years of area income·Overall B+ · #10 of 161
83Marrerounincorporated, Jefferson Parish · 32,540 peopleB−3.5 years of area income·Overall D · #123 of 161
84Miltonunincorporated, Lafayette Parish · 2,793 peopleB−4.3 years of area income·Overall B · #15 of 161
85Carlyssunincorporated, Calcasieu Parish · 4,412 peopleB−2.6 years of area income·Overall B− · #29 of 161
89Lafourche Crossingunincorporated, Lafourche Parish · 2,790 peopleB−4.2 years of area income·Overall C+ · #53 of 161
91Moss Bluffunincorporated, Calcasieu Parish · 12,482 peopleB−3.8 years of area income·Overall B− · #24 of 161
98Elmwoodunincorporated, Jefferson Parish · 6,077 peopleB−7.0 years of area income·Overall B+ · #6 of 161
99Arabiunincorporated, St. Bernard Parish · 4,625 peopleB−3.7 years of area income·Overall C · #86 of 161
102Monticellounincorporated, East Baton Rouge Parish · 3,999 peopleB−2.5 years of area income·Overall C− · #111 of 161
107Waggamanunincorporated, Jefferson Parish · 11,330 peopleC+2.7 years of area income·Overall D · #144 of 161
109Woodmereunincorporated, Jefferson Parish · 11,879 peopleC+3.1 years of area income·Overall D · #130 of 161
112St. Roseunincorporated, St. Charles Parish · 7,644 peopleC+3.7 years of area income·Overall B− · #30 of 161
114Red Chuteunincorporated, Bossier Parish · 6,526 peopleC+3.9 years of area income·Overall B · #23 of 161
115Baton RougeEast Baton Rouge Parish · 222,795 peopleC+3.3 years of area income·Overall C− · #105 of 161
117Estelleunincorporated, Jefferson Parish · 16,341 peopleC+3.5 years of area income·Overall D · #126 of 161
118Chalmetteunincorporated, St. Bernard Parish · 22,616 peopleC+3.4 years of area income·Overall C− · #98 of 161
121Prairievilleunincorporated, Ascension Parish · 35,238 peopleC+4.9 years of area income·Overall A · #2 of 161
122Laplaceunincorporated, St. John the Baptist Parish · 28,343 peopleC+3.4 years of area income·Overall D · #143 of 161
123Harveyunincorporated, Jefferson Parish · 20,915 peopleC+3.6 years of area income·Overall D · #129 of 161
125Terrytownunincorporated, Jefferson Parish · 24,726 peopleC+3.5 years of area income·Overall D · #133 of 161
126Brownfieldsunincorporated, East Baton Rouge Parish · 4,261 peopleC+3.0 years of area income·Overall D− · #154 of 161
129Jeffersonunincorporated, Jefferson Parish · 9,703 peopleC4.0 years of area income·Overall C · #70 of 161
131Swartzunincorporated, Ouachita Parish · 4,110 peopleC3.9 years of area income·Overall C · #57 of 161
134Norcounincorporated, St. Charles Parish · 2,781 peopleC3.4 years of area income·Overall C+ · #43 of 161
135Gardereunincorporated, East Baton Rouge Parish · 12,223 peopleC3.5 years of area income·Overall C− · #95 of 161
136Eastwoodunincorporated, Bossier Parish · 4,440 peopleC4.6 years of area income·Overall C · #76 of 161
139NatchitochesNatchitoches Parish · 17,146 peopleC4.2 years of area income·Overall C− · #115 of 161
140Lakeshoreunincorporated, Ouachita Parish · 3,437 peopleC3.2 years of area income·Overall C− · #112 of 161
142Merrydaleunincorporated, East Baton Rouge Parish · 9,490 peopleC2.0 years of area income·Overall D− · #158 of 161
145Claiborneunincorporated, Ouachita Parish · 13,308 peopleC4.2 years of area income·Overall B− · #35 of 161
147Timberlaneunincorporated, Jefferson Parish · 10,886 peopleC3.5 years of area income·Overall D · #138 of 161
148Lulingunincorporated, St. Charles Parish · 13,960 peopleC4.5 years of area income·Overall C+ · #47 of 161
153Belle Chasseunincorporated, Plaquemines Parish · 10,934 peopleC−5.4 years of area income·Overall B · #18 of 161
154Metairieunincorporated, Jefferson Parish · 139,729 peopleC−5.1 years of area income·Overall C · #67 of 161
155Destrehanunincorporated, St. Charles Parish · 11,619 peopleC−4.7 years of area income·Overall C · #66 of 161
157Eden Isleunincorporated, St. Tammany Parish · 7,683 peopleC−4.1 years of area income·Overall C · #62 of 161
158River Ridgeunincorporated, Jefferson Parish · 13,312 peopleC−5.5 years of area income·Overall C+ · #50 of 161
159Lake ProvidenceEast Carroll Parish · 3,147 peopleD1.6 years of area income·Overall D− · #160 of 161
Not ranked
1 town without a cost of living grade
Towns of 2,500+ that don’t have the figures this grade needs. Each town’s page says which ones are missing.
- St. George · 78,536 people
Quick answers
Questions people ask
What is the most affordable town in Louisiana?
Welsh (Jefferson Davis Parish) ranks first on cost of living among 161 towns, with an A+; Lake Arthur and Chauvin follow.
How are these towns ranked?
The Cost of living grade: home values, rent and property-tax bills against the income of the town’s metro area or county, and the share of households paying 30%+ of income for housing (Census ACS). Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a cost of living grade (161 in Louisiana). 1 town of 2,500+ lack the figures and is listed above. Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the Louisiana page.
Go deeper
All Louisiana rankings →More Louisiana lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live161 towns · #1 JenaBest small towns107 towns · #1 JenaSafest towns46 towns · #1 Lake ArthurTowns with the best schools162 towns · #1 ZacharyHealthiest towns161 towns · #1 ElmwoodBest towns for jobs & income161 towns · #1 AddisMost walkable towns161 towns · #1 New OrleansTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk162 towns · #1 PinevilleBest towns for the outdoors162 towns · #1 St. MartinvilleMost historic towns161 towns · #1 New OrleansTowns with the most civic life105 towns · #1 VintonTowns with the mildest winters159 towns · #1 GallianoDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers159 towns · #1 Benton and 4 moreDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers159 towns · #1 Franklin and VioletDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes160 towns · #1 BroussardDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes157 towns · #1 Abbeville and 23 moreDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns104 towns · #1 CarencroDescribed, no letters
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