10 Best Places to Retire in Louisiana

Which are the best places to retire in Louisiana?

Named after Louis XIV by French explorer Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, Louisiana was claimed as part of the French empire. The original territory spanned from Mobile Bay to north of the present-day Canadian border. This region was purchased in 1803 for 60 million Francs, or $15 million, in what would be known as the Louisiana Purchase.

Geologically, Louisiana is relatively young compared to other parts of the continental US, with most of the area forming just over 7,500 years ago from sediments of the Mississippi River. This is the reason why the state has a vast amount of deltas, waterways, swamplands and marshes. This also makes it ideal for adventure seekers wanting to escape everyday life and nature seekers to explore the inner areas of Louisiana’s forests and parks.

Louisiana is also known as one of the hardest hit areas during hurricane season. This makes the areas along the bayous, deltas and inlets prone to water damage and flooding. This was very evident during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which did most of its damage along parts of southeastern Louisiana and devastated the city of New Orleans.

The state has since recovered and has regained its charm as having one of the most diverse peoples in all of the US. Louisiana is home to the Acadian, Isleno and Creole cultures. The Creole culture, which is a combination of different races, namely French, African, Spanish and Native American cultures. This culture has been recognized as one of the most unique in America and in the world. Owing to its colonial roots, the area was a melting pot of different societies and nationalities, giving it its modern-day cultural identity. Acadians are the descendants of French immigrants from the Cajun region of France, which migrated to parts of the state. Perhaps this is why some retirees have declared some cities in the state as being the best to retire in Louisiana.

Despite being in a great environment with a very interesting culture, some people just aren’t cut to live it out with hurricanes or a warm environment. In that case, you might want to check out the 10 best places to retire in Kentucky!

To come up with the 10 best places to retire in Louisiana, Insider Monkey first determined the factors that are most important for retirees – the cost of living, physicians per capita, crime, and house values. Information from Sperling’s Best Places, Areavibes and Livability were utilized, with every parish given a corresponding score on how high or low they ranked on each of the 4 factors. Scores were then added and averaged, with the top 10 parishes earning a place on our list. So, let’s finally check those retirees friendly places, starting with the number 10.

10. Richland Parish

Cost of living: 20.3% lower than US average
Crime: 49
Physicians per 100k: 101
Median House Value: $80,200
Insider Monkey Score: 39

Notable for being the birthplace of NBA legend Elvin Hayes and musician Tim McGraw, to name a few, Richland parish is located in northern Louisiana. The first public library in the state was in Richland Parish, built in 1925 by the Lambda Kappa Club.

9. Evangeline Parish

Cost of living: 20.5% lower than US average
Crime: 52
Physicians per 100k: 109
Median House Value: $76,600
Insider Monkey Score: 39.3

Settled mainly by French immigrants, Evangeline Parish was created from land originally belonging to St. Landry Parish. It is also interesting to note that people from the Canary Islands have migrated to the area, hence the Spanish surnames. The parish is also home to a part of the Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge.

8. Vernon Parish

Cost of living: 18% lower than US average
Crime: 43
Physicians per 100k: 96
Median House Value: $88,300
Insider Monkey Score: 39.6

Named after the home of George Washington, Mt. Vernon, Vernon Parish was created in 1871 from lands belonging mainly to Natchitoches, Rapides, and Sabine Parishes. A number of colleges and universities are located in the parish, with some such as Louisiana State University, Central Michigan University, and Northwestern State University.

7. Jefferson Davis Parish

Cost of living: 18.1% lower than US average
Crime: 40
Physicians per 100k: 73
Median House Value: $87,600
Insider Monkey Score: 40

Named after the Confederate president Jefferson Davis, the county forms a part of the Acadian region and is located in the southwestern portion of the state. It was created in 1912, and was also where oil was first drilled in the entire state.

6. West Carroll Parish

Cost of living: 21.4% lower than US average
Crime: 41
Physicians per 100k: 52
Median House Value: $73,500
Insider Monkey Score: 40.6

History buffs will be thrilled to live in this parish. West Carroll Parish has been inhabited centuries before the arrival of Europeans, and is home to one of the oldest Native American artworks which are found in Poverty Point. Today, it is designated as a National Monument.

5. St. Tammany Parish

Cost of living: 2.3% higher than US average
Crime: 33
Physicians per 100k: 320
Median House Value: $190,000
Insider Monkey Score: 41

St. Tammany Parish is eastern Louisiana is part of the New Orleans-Metairie, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area. And because it is one of the best places to retire in Louisiana, it is home to 233,470 people, making it the 5th most populous parish in the state. Being located in Lake Pontchartrain, the parish is home to a number of parks and protected areas. St. Tammany made national headlines when Hurricane Katrina made landfall just east of the parish.

4. Lafourche Parish

Cost of living: 14.1% lower than US average
Crime: 37
Physicians per 100k: 149
Median House Value: $122,200
Insider Monkey Score: 43.6

Another part of a larger metropolitan area, the Houma-Thibodaux, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area, Lafourche Parish was named after the Bayou Lafourche, also known as Chetimachas River. The parish is home to 2 state-recognized Native American tribes – the Houma and the Terrebonne tribes.

3. Caldwell Parish

Cost of living: 22.2% lower than US average
Crime: 43
Physicians per 100k: 59
Median House Value: $69,400
Insider Monkey Score: 44.3

Named for a prominent plantation-owning family, Caldwell Parish is the 5th least populated parish in Louisiana, with a population of 10,132. It is home to the Louisiana Art and Folk Festival held since 1956, and it also hosts a 1,000 acre preserve which attracts both botanical and archeological enthusiasts all over the state.

2. Beauregard Parish

Cost of living: 17.7% lower than US average
Crime: 34
Physicians per 100k: 109
Median House Value: $92,400
Insider Monkey Score: 48

Beauregard Parish has a population of 35,654 and is part of the DeRidder, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The parish was part of the Sabine Free State, which was the patch of land both claimed by Spain and United States. To prevent conflict, the 2 nations declared the land as “neutral ground”, with no armed forces from either nation allowed into the area.

1. La Salle Parish

Cost of living: 21.6% lower than US average
Crime: 35
Physicians per 100k: 74
Median House Value: $75,100
Insider Monkey Score: 50

Created in 1910, La Salle Parish was named for French explorer Rene-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, who explored the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The parish hosts part of the Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge along with Catahoula Parish. Although it only has a population of 14,890, its elderly residents love the simple and relaxed pace of life not normally experienced in the cities. According to all our criteria, La Salle Parish is definitely the best place to retire in Louisiana!