Best overall
Plaquemines Parish
Overall score 71.2
Economy 65.9 / Affordability 68.9
State rankings
Best Counties to Live in Louisiana
Compare counties in Louisiana by affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and quality-of-life tradeoffs.
Use the county-size filter to compare large metro counties, mid-size counties, small counties, and rural areas separately. These modules are a starting point, then you can open the full rankings table or compare individual counties.
County size
County size helps compare places with similar scale. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Showing all 64 Louisiana counties
Use this state ranking
Compare counties in Louisiana
Put Louisiana counties side by side.
Estimate moving costs
Compare housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and tax-pressure estimates.
Open Louisiana rankings
Open the full Louisiana ranking table with filters.
Explore on the map
Scan county scores geographically across the country.
Louisiana county rankings at a glance
Compact winners for common county-search priorities.
Best for families
Plaquemines Parish
Family score 73.3
Schools 71.2 / Safety 76
Best value
LaSalle Parish
Value score 80.1
Affordability 88.9 / Taxes 86.2
Most affordable
LaSalle Parish
Affordability 88.9
Typical home $143,894
Best schools
West Feliciana Parish
Schools 72.8
Safety 75.1 / Economy 71.4
Safest
Madison Parish
Safety 79
Schools 0.5 / Peace 85.9
Low taxes
Allen Parish
Taxes 89.5
Affordability 87.1 / Typical home $107,941
Peace & quiet
East Carroll Parish
Peace & Quiet 90.2
Density and built-environment signals
Top counties by category
Use these short lists to jump into the state rankings that match your priorities.
Best overall counties in Louisiana
View full- 1Plaquemines Parish
Typical home $272,232
71.2
Overall
- 2St. Charles Parish
Typical home $264,364
70.1
Overall
- 3Ascension Parish
Typical home $307,283
69.3
Overall
- 4Livingston Parish
Typical home $252,603
67.8
Overall
- 5LaSalle Parish
Typical home $143,894
65.8
Overall
Best counties for families in Louisiana
View full- 1Plaquemines Parish
Typical home $272,232
73.3
Family
- 2St. Charles Parish
Typical home $264,364
71.1
Family
- 3Livingston Parish
Typical home $252,603
67.3
Family
- 4West Feliciana Parish
Typical home $377,633
67.1
Family
- 5Ascension Parish
Typical home $307,283
66.8
Family
Best value counties in Louisiana
View full- 1LaSalle Parish
Typical home $143,894
80.1
Value
- 2Beauregard Parish
Typical home $187,205
76.1
Value
- 3Allen Parish
Typical home $107,941
73.2
Value
- 4Lafourche Parish
Typical home $185,790
73.1
Value
- 5Plaquemines Parish
Typical home $272,232
72.8
Value
Most affordable counties in Louisiana
View full- 1LaSalle Parish
Typical home $143,894
88.9
Afford.
- 2Franklin Parish
Typical home $104,950
88.9
Afford.
- 3St. Mary Parish
Typical home $111,075
87.7
Afford.
- 4Allen Parish
Typical home $107,941
87.1
Afford.
- 5Winn Parish
Typical home $105,538
85.8
Afford.
Best school counties in Louisiana
View full- 1West Feliciana Parish
Typical home $377,633
72.8
Schools
- 2Plaquemines Parish
Typical home $272,232
71.2
Schools
- 3St. Charles Parish
Typical home $264,364
67.3
Schools
- 4Vernon Parish
Typical home $151,159
64.9
Schools
- 5St. Tammany Parish
Typical home $279,584
64
Schools
Lowest tax-score counties in Louisiana
View full- 1Allen Parish
Typical home $107,941
89.5
Taxes
- 2East Feliciana Parish
Typical home $219,164
89.5
Taxes
- 3Pointe Coupee Parish
Typical home $187,783
89.5
Taxes
- 4Catahoula Parish
Typical home $117,109
89.5
Taxes
- 5West Carroll Parish
Typical home $122,237
89.5
Taxes
Quietest counties in Louisiana
View full- 1East Carroll Parish
Typical home $64,163
90.2
Quiet
- 2Lincoln Parish
Typical home $220,441
87
Quiet
- 3Vernon Parish
Typical home $151,159
86.1
Quiet
- 4Madison Parish
Typical home $77,571
85.9
Quiet
- 5West Carroll Parish
Typical home $122,237
85.3
Quiet
Safest counties in Louisiana
View full- 1Madison Parish
Typical home $77,571
79
Safety
- 2Plaquemines Parish
Typical home $272,232
76
Safety
- 3West Feliciana Parish
Typical home $377,633
75.1
Safety
- 4St. Charles Parish
Typical home $264,364
75
Safety
- 5Ascension Parish
Typical home $307,283
74.6
Safety
Popular Louisiana county comparisons
Put two counties side by side before you narrow the search.
How to choose a county in Louisiana
The best county in Louisiana depends on what you need most. Families may care more about schools and safety, budget-focused movers may care more about affordability and taxes, and quiet-living households may care more about density and peace & quiet. Large counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so use the county-size filter to compare places with similar scale.
Best for different needs
Best overall counties in Louisiana
For best overall counties in Louisiana, Plaquemines Parish, St. Charles Parish, and Ascension Parish stand out in this model because they combine several public-data signals instead of winning on only one category.
View this rankingBest counties for families in Louisiana
For families, Plaquemines Parish, St. Charles Parish, and Livingston Parish score well in the family blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet.
View this rankingMost affordable counties in Louisiana
For affordability-focused movers, LaSalle Parish, Franklin Parish, and St. Mary Parish may appeal because they score well on housing and income tradeoff signals in the current model.
View this rankingBest school counties in Louisiana
For school-first households, West Feliciana Parish, Plaquemines Parish, and St. Charles Parish lead the current school score, though families should still compare district-level details.
View this rankingBest low-tax counties in Louisiana
For lower tax-pressure searches, Allen Parish, East Feliciana Parish, and Pointe Coupee Parish score well on the tax model, but buyers should still check local property taxes and carrying costs.
View this rankingBest quiet counties in Louisiana
For quieter-living searches, East Carroll Parish, Lincoln Parish, and Vernon Parish stand out on peace & quiet signals such as density and built-environment indicators.
View this rankingWhat to watch before moving to Louisiana
Compare county scale carefully in Louisiana; large metro counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Check town-level housing costs, commute patterns, school districts, and local services before making a final move decision.
Frequently asked questions about the best counties in Louisiana
What is the best county to live in Louisiana?
The best county depends on your priorities. In this ranking model, Plaquemines Parish currently scores highest overall, but families, budget-focused movers, and quiet-living households may prefer different counties.
What is the best county in Louisiana for families?
Based on the family ranking blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet, Plaquemines Parish stands out in this model.
What is the most affordable county in Louisiana?
LaSalle Parish scores highly on affordability in this model, but buyers should still compare home prices, taxes, insurance, commute costs, and local job access.
How should I compare large and small counties?
Use the county-size filter. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so comparing similar county sizes usually gives a more realistic shortlist.
Are these rankings based on reviews?
No. These rankings use public-data signals such as affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and peace & quiet. Local reviews and personal visits should still be part of a final decision.
Which Louisiana counties score well for schools or taxes?
West Feliciana Parish currently leads the school-score view, while Allen Parish stands out on the tax-score view. Use the rankings presets to compare those priorities separately.
All Louisiana counties
Showing all 64 Louisiana counties ranked by the default generated overall score.
| Rank | County | Overall | Economy | Afford. | Schools | Safety | Taxes | Peace & Quiet | Typical home | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plaquemines Parish FIPS 22075 | 71.2 | 65.9 | 68.9 | 71.2 | 76 | 75.7 | 85.2 | $272,232 | $86,315 |
| 2 | St. Charles Parish FIPS 22089 | 70.1 | 67 | 71 | 67.3 | 75 | 70.9 | 76.8 | $264,364 | $80,897 |
| 3 | Ascension Parish FIPS 22005 | 69.3 | 73.3 | 68.2 | 61.4 | 74.6 | 77.1 | 54.7 | $307,283 | $91,549 |
| 4 | Livingston Parish FIPS 22063 | 67.8 | 62.1 | 71.7 | 60.5 | 71.5 | 82.3 | 66.7 | $252,603 | $80,122 |
| 5 | LaSalle Parish FIPS 22059 | 65.8 | 55.9 | 88.9 | 29.4 | 74.4 | 86.2 | 79 | $143,894 | $68,497 |
| 6 | St. Tammany Parish FIPS 22103 | 65.4 | 61.8 | 68.2 | 64 | 71.9 | 61.3 | 63.3 | $279,584 | $81,202 |
| 7 | West Feliciana Parish FIPS 22125 | 65.1 | 71.4 | 39.1 | 72.8 | 75.1 | 78.9 | 75.2 | $377,633 | $77,452 |
| 8 | Beauregard Parish FIPS 22011 | 61 | 52.5 | 80.1 | 25.3 | 66.1 | 89.2 | 79.8 | $187,205 | $65,944 |
| 9 | Lafourche Parish FIPS 22057 | 61 | 58.3 | 79.3 | 26.1 | 65.4 | 74.1 | 83.1 | $185,790 | $63,135 |
| 10 | Vernon Parish FIPS 22115 | 61 | 37.4 | 74.6 | 64.9 | 54 | 76.1 | 86.1 | $151,159 | $57,270 |
| 11 | Grant Parish FIPS 22043 | 58.6 | 49.9 | 82.8 | 23.8 | 60 | 76.5 | 80.8 | $158,362 | $64,016 |
| 12 | Allen Parish FIPS 22003 | 58.3 | 34.3 | 87.1 | 40.1 | 45.6 | 89.5 | 83.7 | $107,941 | $46,469 |
| 13 | Cameron Parish FIPS 22023 | 56.7 | 54.6 | 64.5 | 22.4 | 67.5 | 84.1 | 77.5 | $236,497 | $75,278 |
| 14 | Jefferson Davis Parish FIPS 22053 | 55.5 | 39.8 | 85.1 | 28.6 | 38.5 | 89.2 | 77.7 | $144,362 | $57,341 |
| 15 | Iberia Parish FIPS 22045 | 54.6 | 38.2 | 81 | 24.4 | 50.1 | 83.8 | 79.8 | $140,394 | $56,961 |
| 16 | St. Bernard Parish FIPS 22087 | 54.4 | 39.6 | 68.1 | 40.6 | 51.2 | 78.1 | 77 | $202,245 | $58,651 |
| 17 | St. Martin Parish FIPS 22099 | 54.4 | 51 | 73.5 | 9.6 | 60.8 | 82.4 | 80.2 | $170,140 | $55,960 |
| 18 | Assumption Parish FIPS 22007 | 54.2 | 48.3 | 72.9 | 9.6 | 60.1 | 88.7 | 82 | $174,124 | $51,423 |
| 19 | Vermilion Parish FIPS 22113 | 54.2 | 48.1 | 75.7 | 33.6 | 26 | 86.3 | 80 | $160,551 | $55,707 |
| 20 | West Baton Rouge Parish FIPS 22121 | 54.1 | 64.7 | 74.9 | 12.1 | 32.9 | 78 | 80.5 | $249,157 | $87,299 |
| 21 | East Feliciana Parish FIPS 22037 | 53.6 | 49.8 | 74.4 | 3.9 | 60.7 | 89.5 | 74.8 | $219,164 | $73,085 |
| 22 | Terrebonne Parish FIPS 22109 | 53.6 | 51.7 | 81.1 | 28 | 17.1 | 80.4 | 84.7 | $178,813 | $64,836 |
| 23 | St. James Parish FIPS 22093 | 52.9 | 46.7 | 74.2 | 24.1 | 42.1 | 74.7 | 80.8 | $206,278 | $65,531 |
| 24 | Pointe Coupee Parish FIPS 22077 | 52.2 | 45.3 | 74.1 | 4 | 57.5 | 89.5 | 80 | $187,783 | $65,961 |
| 25 | St. John the Baptist Parish FIPS 22095 | 51.7 | 42.8 | 75.4 | 7.9 | 58.6 | 81.8 | 71 | $201,700 | $66,630 |
| 26 | Evangeline Parish FIPS 22039 | 51.4 | 29.8 | 85.6 | 17 | 43.8 | 86.2 | 78.4 | $97,740 | $41,915 |
| 27 | St. Mary Parish FIPS 22101 | 51 | 32.7 | 87.7 | 22.9 | 28.1 | 80.5 | 82.1 | $111,075 | $52,576 |
| 28 | Jackson Parish FIPS 22049 | 49.8 | 35.3 | 81.4 | 5.4 | 43.2 | 88.7 | 83.4 | $111,031 | $44,925 |
| 29 | Bossier Parish FIPS 22015 | 49.1 | 56.6 | 62.5 | 37.5 | 4.9 | 70.1 | 80.9 | $244,224 | $69,617 |
| 30 | Catahoula Parish FIPS 22025 | 48.6 | 25.3 | 79.8 | 17.8 | 38.9 | 89.5 | 79.1 | $117,109 | $50,275 |
| 31 | Winn Parish FIPS 22127 | 48.6 | 29.2 | 85.8 | 9.4 | 34.2 | 89.2 | 78.7 | $105,538 | $48,871 |
| 32 | Webster Parish FIPS 22119 | 48.5 | 26.5 | 74.5 | 6 | 62.4 | 87.7 | 78.9 | $121,858 | $41,182 |
| 33 | De Soto Parish FIPS 22031 | 47.8 | 33.3 | 64.7 | 14.8 | 48.3 | 89.4 | 82.4 | $183,440 | $48,578 |
| 34 | Red River Parish FIPS 22081 | 47.1 | 33.9 | 74.1 | 2.3 | 44.2 | 87.9 | 84.3 | $151,462 | $49,167 |
| 35 | Franklin Parish FIPS 22041 | 47 | 18.1 | 88.9 | 5 | 41.9 | 87.9 | 83.8 | $104,950 | $47,020 |
| 36 | Iberville Parish FIPS 22047 | 46.8 | 37.8 | 73.4 | 10.1 | 26.7 | 88 | 83.4 | $167,232 | $54,000 |
| 37 | West Carroll Parish FIPS 22123 | 46.7 | 21 | 83.7 | 14.6 | 29.4 | 89.5 | 85.3 | $122,237 | $49,134 |
| 38 | Tangipahoa Parish FIPS 22105 | 46.3 | 43.5 | 59.5 | 4.5 | 51.8 | 82.3 | 72.8 | $222,958 | $56,760 |
| 39 | Madison Parish FIPS 22065 | 46 | 6.5 | 78.8 | 0.5 | 79 | 84.7 | 85.9 | $77,571 | $35,456 |
| 40 | Lafayette Parish FIPS 22055 | 45.9 | 61.2 | 63 | 26.6 | 7.9 | 70.5 | 25.1 | $236,053 | $67,451 |
| 41 | Bienville Parish FIPS 22013 | 45.8 | 24.5 | 77 | 10.6 | 35 | 89.5 | 81.5 | $104,857 | $35,011 |
| 42 | Richland Parish FIPS 22083 | 45.7 | 27.2 | 72.2 | 5.1 | 44.7 | 89.5 | 84.4 | $165,479 | $53,544 |
| 43 | Sabine Parish FIPS 22085 | 45.7 | 35 | 56.6 | 15.6 | 47.9 | 89.5 | 70.6 | $194,046 | $50,329 |
| 44 | Calcasieu Parish FIPS 22019 | 45.2 | 42.8 | 72.4 | 23.4 | 0.9 | 78 | 75.7 | $193,029 | $67,564 |
| 45 | Avoyelles Parish FIPS 22009 | 44.2 | 26.2 | 72.7 | 6.3 | 36.6 | 89.5 | 74.9 | $123,196 | $39,325 |
| 46 | Caldwell Parish FIPS 22021 | 43.5 | 20.6 | 72.8 | 9.7 | 35.3 | 88.8 | 81.2 | $131,550 | $47,028 |
| 47 | Acadia Parish FIPS 22001 | 43.4 | 36 | 69.6 | 20.4 | 0 | 89 | 80 | $154,717 | $45,562 |
| 48 | Rapides Parish FIPS 22079 | 43.4 | 42.5 | 70.8 | 18.7 | 0.5 | 71.5 | 82.8 | $168,556 | $54,967 |
| 49 | Jefferson Parish FIPS 22051 | 43.2 | 50.9 | 52 | 11.2 | 44.6 | 75 | 19.9 | $265,366 | $65,252 |
| 50 | Claiborne Parish FIPS 22027 | 42.9 | 19.8 | 80.6 | 1.3 | 35 | 83.5 | 78.2 | $83,269 | $32,831 |
| 51 | East Carroll Parish FIPS 22035 | 42.9 | 3.2 | 84.2 | 2.8 | 51.1 | 83.3 | 90.2 | $64,163 | $33,341 |
| 52 | Union Parish FIPS 22111 | 42.9 | 30.6 | 68.3 | 5.4 | 28.9 | 87 | 81.2 | $153,157 | $42,885 |
| 53 | Ouachita Parish FIPS 22073 | 42.6 | 38.4 | 67.9 | 26.7 | 0 | 70.4 | 72.7 | $175,221 | $54,688 |
| 54 | Washington Parish FIPS 22117 | 41.9 | 39 | 75.5 | 4.6 | 0 | 85.2 | 76.4 | $131,117 | $45,380 |
| 55 | Concordia Parish FIPS 22029 | 41.4 | 10.6 | 79.3 | 5.4 | 32.6 | 87.2 | 84.6 | $110,271 | $39,943 |
| 56 | St. Landry Parish FIPS 22097 | 40.3 | 24.8 | 79.7 | 7 | 0 | 88.3 | 78.9 | $126,430 | $44,462 |
| 57 | Caddo Parish FIPS 22017 | 39 | 37.4 | 74.1 | 6.7 | 0 | 61.2 | 73.5 | $140,586 | $50,705 |
| 58 | Lincoln Parish FIPS 22061 | 38.9 | 31.6 | 34 | 32.1 | 28.1 | 74.9 | 87 | $220,441 | $39,172 |
| 59 | Natchitoches Parish FIPS 22069 | 37.4 | 24.8 | 59.3 | 6.9 | 19.1 | 79.6 | 84.4 | $169,885 | $46,292 |
| 60 | St. Helena Parish FIPS 22091 | 36.6 | 11.6 | 62.6 | 0.2 | 35 | 89.3 | 76 | $167,923 | $41,934 |
| 61 | Tensas Parish FIPS 22107 | 36.3 | 8.1 | 63.3 | 3 | 35 | 89.5 | 72.4 | $134,172 | $36,615 |
| 62 | East Baton Rouge Parish FIPS 22033 | 36.2 | 50.6 | 58.2 | 9.9 | 0 | 61.1 | 19.1 | $231,672 | $63,071 |
| 63 | Morehouse Parish FIPS 22067 | 35.6 | 9.2 | 84.9 | 2 | 0 | 75.4 | 83.5 | $93,092 | $39,454 |
| 64 | Orleans Parish FIPS 22071 | 26 | 35.1 | 48 | 5.7 | 0 | 32.7 | 15.9 | $242,574 | $56,631 |