Some of you might be asking yourself, at this very moment, is Louisiana a good place?
The answer is unequivocally yes… if you know where to locate the best counties to live in Louisiana.
Lucky for you, we’re here to help you identify the best counties to live in the Pelican State based on the most recently available data from the Census. And this isn’t our first rodeo — we’ve been using Saturday Night Science to rank places for years.
The question becomes if you wanted to relocate to the best part of Louisiana, where would you go? To answer that, we looked at crime, cost of living, and demographic data for all 64 counties in the state.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | FAQs | Summary
The 10 Best Counties To Live In Louisiana For 2026
Cameron Parish is the county to be when it comes to living the good life in Louisiana. And you should avoid Madison Parish if you can — at least according to the data.
Now you know exactly where to move in Louisiana. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in Louisiana and the cheapest places to live in Louisiana.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The Best Counties To Live In Louisiana For 2026
1. Cameron Parish
Biggest Place: Hackberry
Population: 5,015
Median Income: $75,278 (8th best)
Median Home Price: $236,496 (11th best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.1% (best)
More on Cameron Parish: Data
2. Ascension Parish
Biggest Place: Prairieville
Population: 130,314
Median Income: $91,549 (best)
Median Home Price: $307,283 (2nd best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.4% (11th best)
More on Ascension Parish: Data
3. St. Tammany Parish
Biggest Place: Slidell
Population: 272,421
Median Income: $81,202 (4th best)
Median Home Price: $277,617 (3rd best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.8% (14th best)
More on St. Tammany Parish: Data
4. West Feliciana Parish
Biggest Place: St. Francisville
Population: 15,327
Median Income: $77,452 (7th best)
Median Home Price: $377,632 (best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.1% (7th best)
More on West Feliciana Parish: Data
5. Plaquemines Parish
Biggest Place: Belle Chasse
Population: 22,803
Median Income: $86,315 (3rd best)
Median Home Price: $272,231 (4th best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.2% (10th best)
More on Plaquemines Parish: Data
6. St. James Parish
Biggest Place: Lutcher
Population: 19,528
Median Income: $65,531 (17th best)
Median Home Price: $207,040 (17th best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.1% (6th best)
More on St. James Parish: Data
7. West Baton Rouge Parish
Biggest Place: Addis
Population: 27,974
Median Income: $87,299 (2nd best)
Median Home Price: $249,156 (8th best)
Unemployment Rate: 7.0% (44th best)
More on West Baton Rouge Parish: Data
8. Livingston Parish
Biggest Place: Denham Springs
Population: 148,115
Median Income: $80,122 (6th best)
Median Home Price: $252,602 (7th best)
Unemployment Rate: 4.2% (9th best)
More on Livingston Parish: Data
9. St. Charles Parish
Biggest Place: Luling
Population: 51,396
Median Income: $80,897 (5th best)
Median Home Price: $257,773 (6th best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.7% (40th best)
More on St. Charles Parish: Data
10. East Feliciana Parish
Biggest Place: Jackson
Population: 19,271
Median Income: $73,085 (9th best)
Median Home Price: $219,163 (16th best)
Unemployment Rate: 5.9% (30th best)
More on East Feliciana Parish: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which Louisiana county is the best?
To give you the best county in Louisiana, we have to look at a handful of metrics that signal the quality of a place. To do that, we made assumptions about what’s in a “best county” and what isn’t. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to two of the best data sources on the internet. Namely, the American Community Survey data and FBI Crime data for the most recent period.
We paid particular attention to:
- Violent Crime Rates
- Property Crime Rates
- Median Home Values
- Median Income
- Unemployment Rates
- Adult Education Levels
- Health Insurance Coverage
- Poverty Rates
We then ranked each county in Louisiana across each of the criteria from one to 64, with one being the best.
Taking the average rank across all criteria, we created a quality of life score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Best County To Live In Louisiana.”
The result is some of the safest, quietest, and best counties to raise a family in the Pelican State.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the best counties to live in Louisiana.
Read on to see why Cameron Parish is the best county, while Madison Parish is probably in contention for being the worst county in Louisiana.
Summary: The Best Counties In Louisiana To Call Home For 2026
Living in Louisiana can vary from one part of the state to the next — who woulda thought?
The best counties in Louisiana are Cameron Parish, Ascension Parish, St. Tammany Parish, West Feliciana Parish, Plaquemines Parish, St. James Parish, West Baton Rouge Parish, Livingston Parish, St. Charles Parish, and East Feliciana Parish.
But now you know the outstanding parts and the parts to avoid, and that’s why you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the worst counties in Louisiana according to the data:
- Madison Parish
- Evangeline Parish
- Concordia Parish
For more Louisiana reading, check out:
- Safest Places In Louisiana
- Cheapest Places To Live In Louisiana
- Best Places To Buy A House In Louisiana
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Louisiana
Detailed List Of The Best Counties In Louisiana
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Median Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cameron Parish | 5,015 | $75,278 | $236,496 |
| 2 | Ascension Parish | 130,314 | $91,549 | $307,283 |
| 3 | St. Tammany Parish | 272,421 | $81,202 | $277,617 |
| 4 | West Feliciana Parish | 15,327 | $77,452 | $377,632 |
| 5 | Plaquemines Parish | 22,803 | $86,315 | $272,231 |
| 6 | St. James Parish | 19,528 | $65,531 | $207,040 |
| 7 | West Baton Rouge Parish | 27,974 | $87,299 | $249,156 |
| 8 | Livingston Parish | 148,115 | $80,122 | $252,602 |
| 9 | St. Charles Parish | 51,396 | $80,897 | $257,773 |
| 10 | East Feliciana Parish | 19,271 | $73,085 | $219,163 |
| 11 | Lafourche Parish | 96,252 | $63,135 | $185,789 |
| 12 | Bossier Parish | 129,789 | $69,617 | $244,223 |
| 13 | Lafayette Parish | 247,997 | $67,451 | $236,052 |
| 14 | St. Martin Parish | 51,353 | $55,960 | $160,509 |
| 15 | Lasalle Parish | 14,789 | $68,497 | $143,894 |
| 16 | Calcasieu Parish | 207,088 | $67,564 | $193,029 |
| 17 | Jefferson Davis Parish | 31,924 | $57,341 | $144,361 |
| 18 | Lincoln Parish | 48,174 | $39,172 | $220,440 |
| 19 | Vernon Parish | 47,117 | $57,270 | $151,159 |
| 20 | St. John The Baptist Parish | 40,743 | $66,630 | $188,858 |
| 21 | Terrebonne Parish | 106,186 | $64,836 | $178,812 |
| 22 | Grant Parish | 22,095 | $64,016 | $158,361 |
| 23 | Beauregard Parish | 36,676 | $65,944 | $187,204 |
| 24 | Pointe Coupee Parish | 20,217 | $65,961 | $187,783 |
| 25 | De Soto Parish | 27,026 | $48,578 | $183,440 |
| 26 | East Baton Rouge Parish | 452,938 | $63,071 | $231,671 |
| 27 | Jefferson Parish | 430,920 | $65,252 | $265,365 |
| 28 | Orleans Parish | 371,853 | $56,631 | $242,574 |
| 29 | Rapides Parish | 127,527 | $54,967 | $168,556 |
| 30 | Tangipahoa Parish | 136,738 | $56,760 | $222,957 |
| 31 | Vermilion Parish | 57,123 | $55,707 | $160,550 |
| 32 | Ouachita Parish | 158,480 | $54,688 | $175,221 |
| 33 | Natchitoches Parish | 36,693 | $46,292 | $169,884 |
| 34 | West Carroll Parish | 9,464 | $49,134 | $122,236 |
| 35 | Webster Parish | 35,820 | $41,182 | $121,858 |
| 36 | Assumption Parish | 20,484 | $51,423 | $174,124 |
| 37 | Iberia Parish | 68,599 | $56,961 | $140,394 |
| 38 | Sabine Parish | 21,977 | $50,329 | $194,046 |
| 39 | St. Bernard Parish | 44,419 | $58,651 | $197,949 |
| 40 | Caddo Parish | 230,004 | $50,705 | $140,586 |
| 41 | Iberville Parish | 29,815 | $54,000 | $167,231 |
| 42 | Red River Parish | 7,443 | $49,167 | $151,461 |
| 43 | Winn Parish | 13,467 | $48,871 | $105,537 |
| 44 | St. Mary Parish | 47,828 | $52,576 | $135,778 |
| 45 | Union Parish | 20,821 | $42,885 | $153,157 |
| 46 | Richland Parish | 19,822 | $53,544 | $165,478 |
| 47 | Acadia Parish | 56,955 | $45,562 | $154,717 |
| 48 | Jackson Parish | 14,884 | $44,925 | $111,031 |
| 49 | Washington Parish | 45,120 | $45,380 | $131,116 |
| 50 | Claiborne Parish | 13,833 | $32,831 | $83,269 |
| 51 | St. Landry Parish | 81,670 | $44,462 | $139,297 |
| 52 | Morehouse Parish | 24,551 | $39,454 | $93,091 |
| 53 | Caldwell Parish | 9,500 | $47,028 | $131,549 |
| 54 | Catahoula Parish | 8,583 | $50,275 | $117,108 |
| 55 | Allen Parish | 22,477 | $46,469 | $107,940 |
| 56 | Bienville Parish | 12,638 | $35,011 | $104,856 |
| 57 | Franklin Parish | 19,408 | $47,020 | $104,950 |
| 58 | Tensas Parish | 3,935 | $36,615 | $134,172 |
| 59 | St. Helena Parish | 10,858 | $41,934 | $75,562 |
| 60 | Avoyelles Parish | 38,905 | $39,325 | $123,195 |
| 61 | East Carroll Parish | 7,072 | $33,341 | $64,162 |
| 62 | Concordia Parish | 18,174 | $39,943 | $110,270 |
| 63 | Evangeline Parish | 32,060 | $41,915 | $97,740 |
| 64 | Madison Parish | 9,513 | $35,456 | $77,571 |