We know that you’re dying to know where the best places to retire in Louisiana are.
The Bayou State’s best places to retire are safe and affordable, and the people living there are super friendly.
So, we created a list of the best places to retire in Louisiana for 2026. To determine the best place to retire in the Pelican State for 2026, we looked at the most recent FBI and Census data for places with 10,000 or more residents. We ended up with 24 cities. To set our list apart, we thought it would be interesting to see whether a place is close to an international airport.
The ying to this yang, however, is that the poverty rate for Louisiana’s 65 and older is high and the state’s senior healthcare could use an upgrade in the form of more geriatricians and better nursing homes.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Louisiana For 2026
What is the best place to retire in Louisiana for 2026? The best place to retire in Louisiana is Covington.
If you already live in Covington consider yourself lucky. If you don’t, take a look below to learn more about every place in the top ten.
Why did Covington take the top spot? And where are Shreveport and Lafayette?
For more Louisiana state reading:
- Best Places To Live In Louisiana
- Cheapest Places To Live In Louisiana
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Louisiana
- Best Places To Retire In America
The 10 Best Places To Retire In Louisiana For 2026
/10
Population: 11,658
Median Income: $75,851
Median Home Price: $317,481
Median Rent: $1,396
Distance to Closest Airport: 34 miles
More on Covington: Data | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 15,732
Median Income: $52,072
Median Home Price: $226,920
Median Rent: $960
Distance to Closest Airport: 36 miles
More on Thibodaux: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 10,468
Median Income: $30,749
Median Home Price: $85,577
Median Rent: $767
Distance to Closest Airport: 58 miles
More on Bogalusa: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 64,904
Median Income: $64,020
Median Home Price: $268,195
Median Rent: $1,179
Distance to Closest Airport: 1 miles
More on Kenner: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 12,946
Median Income: $94,405
Median Home Price: $355,608
Median Rent: $1,422
Distance to Closest Airport: 28 miles
More on Mandeville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 44,060
Median Income: $47,113
Median Home Price: $144,328
Median Rent: $931
Distance to Closest Airport: 5 miles
More on Alexandria: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 11,455
Median Income: $34,294
Median Home Price: $140,974
Median Rent: $895
Distance to Closest Airport: 98 miles
More on Minden: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 15,495
Median Income: $32,964
Median Home Price: $123,098
Median Rent: $717
Distance to Closest Airport: 61 miles
More on Opelousas: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 17,577
Median Income: $37,133
Median Home Price: $181,713
Median Rent: $802
Distance to Closest Airport: 42 miles
More on Natchitoches: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
/10
Population: 28,561
Median Income: $70,497
Median Home Price: $218,142
Median Rent: $1,375
Distance to Closest Airport: 34 miles
More on Slidell: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Movers
Methodology: How We Determined The Best Places To Retire In the Pelican State for 2026
To create our ranking of the best places in Louisiana to retire, we used Saturday Night Science. We analyzed Census data to find all places in the Pelican State — 473 cities and towns.
We then narrowed it down to places with at least 10,000 people that weren’t townships. This left us with 24 places from across the state.
For these 24, we looked at the following criteria taken from the Census, the FBI’s Crime Report, National Weather Service, and OpenFlights:
- Low cost of living as measured by rent
- Low crime
- Things to do (Museums, Colleges, and Libraries in town)
- Nice weather
- Distance to the closest international airport
- Other retirees (High median age)
We then ranked each of these places for each criterion from one to 24, with the lowest number being the best.
Finally, we took the average rank across these criteria. The place, in this case Covington, with the lowest average rank, was crowned the best of the best, a place for you to start your second career.
The report has been updated for 2026. This list reflects our eleventh time ranking the best places to retire in Louisiana.
Summary: Maybe You’re Not Ready To Retire In Louisiana Yet…
So there you have it, the best place to retire in Louisiana goes to Covington.
The best places to retire in Louisiana are Covington, Thibodaux, Bogalusa, Kenner, Mandeville, Alexandria, Minden, Opelousas, Natchitoches, and Slidell.
If you’re not ready to hang up your office apparel yet, then these places might be up your alley:
- West Monroe
- Lafayette
- Broussard
For more Louisiana reading, check out:
Best Places To Retire In Louisiana
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Prices | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Covington | 11,658 | $75,851 | $317,481 | $1,396 |
| 2 | Thibodaux | 15,732 | $52,072 | $226,920 | $960 |
| 3 | Bogalusa | 10,468 | $30,749 | $85,577 | $767 |
| 4 | Kenner | 64,904 | $64,020 | $268,195 | $1,179 |
| 5 | Mandeville | 12,946 | $94,405 | $355,608 | $1,422 |
| 6 | Alexandria | 44,060 | $47,113 | $144,328 | $931 |
| 7 | Minden | 11,455 | $34,294 | $140,974 | $895 |
| 8 | Opelousas | 15,495 | $32,964 | $123,098 | $717 |
| 9 | Natchitoches | 17,577 | $37,133 | $181,713 | $802 |
| 10 | Slidell | 28,561 | $70,497 | $218,142 | $1,375 |