The 10 Safest Cities In Louisiana For 2024

The safest cities in Louisiana are Addis and Rayne for 2024 using Saturday Night Science.

Louisiana towns and cities are so safe that they still make people drive 55 MPH on the highways.

All jokes aside, we think they must be doing something right in Louisiana in terms of safety.

There are super safe places in The Bayou State, but you'll have to know how to navigate the state's property and violent crime heat map to find them. There are some dangerous places in Louisiana that you might want to avoid.

And that's where HomeSnacks comes in. We looked at the FBI data on crime for places in Louisiana with more than 5,000 residents and created a list of the safest places to live in The Pelican State for 2024.

Our research led us to multiple conclusions. One, there are super safe places throughout Louisiana from Shreveport in the state's northwest region to some neighborhoods in New Orleans in the state's bayou region. And two, you should look at our list of Louisiana's safest places below before deciding where to live.

Want to know more about Louisiana's safest places? Find a sunny spot on the Gulf of Mexico and read on.


Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table

Here are the 10 safest cities to live in Louisiana for 2024:

  1. Addis (Homes For Sale)
  2. Rayne (Homes For Sale)
  3. Harahan (Homes For Sale)
  4. Covington (Homes For Sale)
  5. Mandeville (Homes For Sale)
  6. Youngsville (Homes For Sale)
  7. St. Gabriel (Homes For Sale)
  8. De Ridder (Homes For Sale)
  9. Zachary (Homes For Sale)
  10. Scott (Homes For Sale)
Safest Cities In Louisiana Map

So, want to know where you can walk the streets safely, your kids can safely play outside until dark, and you don't have to worry about packages being stolen from your front porch? Look no further than Louisiana's safest place to live for 2024, Addis.

If you want to see how Louisiana's other amazing safe places faired, take a look at the list below. And if you don't see your favorite there, head to the bottom.

For more reading on safe places to live in and around Louisiana, check out:

The 10 Safest Cities In Louisiana For 2024

Population: 7,438
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 147 (fourth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 497 (second safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Addis: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
7
/10

Welcome to Addis, our number one safest city in Louisiana. It's so safe in this little city along the Mississippi River, that the alligators are always showing their faces at the same time every evening reminding the residents to get home before dark. Thanks gators!

Located along Louisiana Highway One, Addis offers a safe environment with small town charm that packs a big punch. Not literally, of course. No fighting happens in Baton Rouge Parish; that wouldn't be safe. Not to mention they have the Cajun Navy dialed in if ya know what we mean. #winkwink

With a little over 5,000 residents, the superb quality of life in this little city just outside of Baton Rouge, is the reason that it is our number one safest city in Louisiana for 2024. The residents claim that Addis is where "Your problems will be smaller, You burdens will be few, For Friends are made for helping, And that's just what they do." We think this is definitely why they scored a whopping 8/10 on our snackablity scale with an 8.5/10 safety score. They are always looking out for each other.

Rayne, LA
Source: Wikipedia User Chris Litherland | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 7,100
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 42 (safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 873 (fifth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Rayne: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
5
/10

Welcome to the "Frog Capital of the World." That's the title given to Rayne, Louisiana. Each year, the community hosts the Rayne Frog Festival, the perfect place to gorge on frog legs and to take in the spectacle of a frog derby.

Rayne has other things going for it as well. For one thing, it's only 25 minutes from the nearby city of Lafayette. But most importantly, it stands as one of the safest communities in the state.

With a population of 7,100, Rayne experienced only 62 over the course of a year. The news is even better when it comes to violence. The number of violent crimes came in at a scant 3. As a result, Rayne can add the title of "Number 2 Safest City in Louisiana" to its designation as the Frog Capital.

Harahan, LA
Source: Wikipedia User Infrogmation of New Orleans | GFDL

Population: 8,827
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 169 (fifth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 860 (fourth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Harahan: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
9
/10

Harahan, located along the Mississippi River just East of New Orleans, is our third safest city in Louisiana. This little river city is super family friendly and virtually crime free. It's one of the safest places to call home on our list.

We think that their town motto should be: 'Feels Like Home'. They are super welcoming; and in true Louisiana fashion, they would be happy to get anyone out of a jam.

Harahan's overall HomeSnacks snackability score was off the hook: a straight up 9/10! Not surprising, considering their safety rating is an 8/10 and percentage of educated residents is 8/10. Busy people = less naughty people. If that doesn't say safe, we don't know what does.

Keep making' The Bayou State proud, Harahan. We all could learn a lot from this Jefferson Parish city.

Covington, LA
Source: Wikipedia User Frankbp | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 11,543
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 199 (seventh safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 926 (sixth safest)
Murders: 2
Murders Per 100k: 17
More on Covington: Data | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
7
/10

Covington in St. Tammany Parish, famed for its historical roots as an early 19th-century settlement and river commerce hub, is ranked fourth in safety across the state for 2024. Its crime rates, with a violent crime rate of 199/100k people and an even lower property crime rate of 926/100k people, reflect the peaceful nature of this suburban community.

Covington stands at seventh safest for violent crime and sixth safest for property crime in the state.

Mandeville, LA
Source: Wikipedia User Infrogmation of New Orleans | GFDL

Population: 13,245
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 181 (sixth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,343 (eighth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Mandeville: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
9
/10

Y'all flip on your swamp boat hazards, slap on a life jacket, and read on to find out why Mandeville is our fifth safest city in Louisiana.

It might not be Barney Fife's Mayberry, or maybe it is, but this safe, little Lake Pontchartrain city with a vibrant Cajun community, quiet neighborhoods, and hardworking residents is just as notable and just as safe. Probably why it's one of the most sought after cities outside of New Orleans. It doesn't end there folks. This little Louisiana gem, scored a strong 8.5/10 on our snackability scale, they also scored an 8.5 for job opportunities and an 8.5 for number of educated residents. I think it's safe to say they're the poster city for the rest of the state. And word on the street is that young professionals are starting to take notice and move Mandeville's direction. So don't wait, because the word is out.

And if you want to read more about how great Mandeville is, check out our article: The Best Cities in Louisiana'. Not surprising, this Tammany Parish city also made our top ten. Good work 'Good Neighbor Community'!

Youngsville, LA
Source: Flickr User Cajun Byrd | CC BY 2.0

Population: 15,654
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 236 (eighth safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,584 (tenth safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Youngsville: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
8.5
/10

Youngsville is the ideal destination when you're trying to find that true Louisiana town with safe, small city vibes and big city pride. This is definitely one of the reasons it has held strong from last year to be our sixth safest city in Louisiana.

Youngsville's gold star qualities like the non-existent number of crimes per 100,000 residents, their large number of educated residents, and their A+ social and economic infrastructure, speaks volumes. It might not be Lafayette, but this little city with a vibrant melting pot of French, African, and American cultures, five star restaurants, unforgettable summer festivals, and endless fun, is just as notable and just as safe. Probably why it's one of the most populous cities at the southern end of Lafayette Parish.

Youngsville is the kind of place where one can safely cruise the roads on ATVs, lawnmowers, and trucks with gun racks. It's also the kind of place where packages from Amazon won't get stolen from your front porch. But if they do, it was probably a gator. And take it from us, you should pick your battles.

St. Gabriel, LA
Source: Wikipedia User D. McGrath from Lafayette, LA, USA | CC BY-SA 2.0

Population: 7,553
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 370 (12th safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,085 (seventh safest)
Murders: 1
Murders Per 100k: 13
More on St. Gabriel: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
6
/10

St. Gabriel is the seventh safest city in Louisiana. And if you don't know how to keep it secure in Gabriel, they will put you in the Elayn Hunt Correctional Center.

St. Gabriel is a small city just South of Baton Rouge. St. Gabriel's residents say this little slice of sweet potato Louisiana pie is the 'Pride of The Bayou State.' So it is no surprise that they keep moving up our list. And it's not shocking that they scored an 8/10 safety rating.

8. De Ridder
De Ridder, LA
Source: Wikipedia User Renelibrary | CC BY-SA 4.0

Population: 9,674
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 403 (13th safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,550 (ninth safest)
Murders: 1
Murders Per 100k: 10
More on De Ridder: Real Estate

In De Ridder they love their wide open spaces, their parks, their safe neighborhoods, their Cajun cuisine, and their trucks with gun racks. We all know nothing says safe like showing' up to the annual 'Beauregard Watermelon Festival' with your gal by your side and a newly mounted rack, right?

This little piece of heaven in the 337 has every right to be our eighth safest city in Louisiana for 2024. They scored off the charts on our snackability scale with an emphasis on education; and of course, safety.

De Ridder is so safe, that the only crime here is a bad haircut or dipping your crawfish in ranch. Its small city charm delivers big opportunities to all that are searching for a safe place to call home. They claim to be more then prepared to show you the good 'ol hometown pride that makes the south famous and safe. Yes, 'It's that Friendly'.

Zachary, LA
Source: Wikipedia User Jim Plylar | CC BY-SA 3.0

Population: 20,344
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 348 (11th safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,946 (12th safest)
Murders: 1
Murders Per 100k: 4
More on Zachary: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
8
/10

Zachary, nestled in Louisiana's East Baton Rouge Parish near Baton Rouge, stands out as the ninth safest city in the region, balancing growth and safety effectively.

The city's low violent crime rate of 348/100k people and property crime rate of 1,946/100k people underscore its security, with rankings of 11th safest for violent crime and 12th safest for property crimes. With a rich history evolving from a railroad village to a bustling city of 20,344, Zachary's success in curbing crime amidst expansion is commendable, securing its status as a top choice for those prioritizing safety in Louisiana.

Scott, LA
Source: Public domain

Population: 8,696
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 91 (second safest)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,920 (22nd safest)
Murders: 0
Murders Per 100k: 0
More on Scott: Data | Crime | Real Estate

Overall SnackAbility
6
/10

Welcome to our tenth safest city in Louisiana: Scott. This city of over 8,000 residents in Lafayette Parish, should be called the 'The Best City to live in Louisiana,' too, because all is crazy safe and super fine in "The City Where the West Begins and the Hospitality Never Ends."

They have the best gator bites, too! Not real alligator bites, folks. That wouldn't be safe. But tiny little deep fried, breaded morsels of real gator. Gator bites aside, it truly is a family friendly city where the treets re or veryone. The people here are super welcoming and there are a ton of safe, family friendly parks and activities.

And kudos to Scott, their snackability rating is off the charts: a whopping 8/10! Their number of amenities scored 7/10 and their education rating a 7/10! Scott has a strong sense of community with a big city focus. Check it out! We're pretty sure you will want to call it home.

Methodology: How we calculated the safest cities in Louisiana for 2024

Safest Cities in Louisiana Graph

While there are surveys and public polls on what cities in Louisiana are the safest, we wanted to rely on something other than speculation and opinion. Instead, we looked at the hard numbers from the FBI's most recent crime report in Louisiana.

Specifically, we used Saturday Night Science to analyze the FBI's Uniform Crime Report, which summarizes the number of property and violent crimes in each city annually. We used two criteria:

  • Violent crimes per capita (murders, assaults, rapes, armed robberies)
  • Property crimes per capita (thefts, burglaries, motor vehicle thefts)

For example, there were 48 crimes committed in Addis, with a reported population of 7,438. That means the number of crimes per capita is 0.0065, which translates into a 1 in 154 chance of being the victim of a crime.

We only looked at Louisiana cities that have populations of more than 5,000. This filter left us with 52 of the biggest cities in Louisiana to rank.

We ranked each city for each criterion from 1 to 52 where 1 in any particular category is the safest.

Next, we averaged each place's two criteria to create a Safety Index. We crowned the place with the lowest overall Safety Score, "The Safest Place In Louisiana," with any ties going to the bigger city.

The safest city in Louisiana, based on our criteria, is Addis. The most dangerous city in Louisiana? Monroe, where residents had a 1 in 10 chance of being the victim of a crime.

This article has been update for 2024. This report marks our tenth time ranking the safest places to live in Louisiana. All the data comes from the FBI's Crime In The USA 2022 report.

Best Places To Buy A House In Louisiana

Summary: The Safest Cities In The Pelican State

Looking at the data, you can tell that Addis is as safe as they come in Louisiana, according to science and data.

But as most Louisiana residents would agree, almost every place here has its safe and not safe parts. So just make sure you're informed ahead of time.

The safest places in Louisiana are .

Here's a look at the most dangerous cities in Louisiana according to the data:

  1. Monroe
  2. West Monroe
  3. Alexandria
For more reading, check out:

Where Are The 10 Safest Cities In Louisiana For 2024?

Rank City Population Violent Crimes Per 100k Property Crimes Per 100k Murders Per 100k Murders
1 Addis, LA 7,438 147 497 0 0
2 Rayne, LA 7,100 42 873 0 0
3 Harahan, LA 8,827 169 860 0 0
4 Covington, LA 11,543 199 926 17 2
5 Mandeville, LA 13,245 181 1,343 0 0
6 Youngsville, LA 15,654 236 1,584 0 0
7 St. Gabriel, LA 7,553 370 1,085 13 1
8 De Ridder, LA 9,674 403 1,550 10 1
9 Zachary, LA 20,344 348 1,946 4 1
10 Scott, LA 8,696 91 2,920 0 0
11 Broussard, LA 14,103 304 2,261 14 2
12 Carencro, LA 9,387 415 2,098 42 4
13 Kenner, LA 66,250 412 2,230 12 8
14 Slidell, LA 28,686 268 2,834 6 2
15 Westwego, LA 8,266 483 1,887 0 0
16 Patterson, LA 5,681 651 651 0 0
17 Baker, LA 12,303 544 2,243 24 3
18 Thibodaux, LA 15,166 468 3,006 13 2
19 Abbeville, LA 10,968 774 2,133 18 2
20 Tallulah, LA 5,975 1,121 485 16 1
21 Sulphur, LA 19,581 428 3,712 5 1
22 Ville Platte, LA 7,029 142 5,320 0 0
23 Lake Charles, LA 77,054 629 3,112 18 14
24 Gretna, LA 17,358 599 3,623 5 1
25 Plaquemine, LA 5,804 809 2,601 34 2
26 Walker, LA 6,450 620 3,658 15 1
27 Jennings, LA 9,664 662 3,218 10 1
28 Lafayette, LA 121,546 478 4,387 18 22
29 Ponchatoula, LA 7,977 626 3,698 0 0
30 Minden, LA 11,711 990 2,826 0 0
31 Franklin, LA 6,613 1,058 2,404 0 0
32 Ruston, LA 22,435 802 3,802 13 3
33 Shreveport, LA 180,763 811 3,790 26 47
34 Eunice, LA 9,939 593 5,040 20 2
35 Breaux Bridge, LA 8,149 809 4,049 24 2
36 Houma, LA 32,762 830 4,080 45 15
37 Morgan City, LA 10,909 1,136 3,281 27 3
38 Gonzales, LA 12,869 489 6,838 23 3
39 Pineville, LA 14,079 944 4,986 7 1
40 Bossier City, LA 63,078 1,008 4,668 9 6
41 Crowley, LA 12,621 1,449 3,811 7 1
42 Bastrop, LA 9,291 1,194 4,585 10 1
43 Leesville, LA 5,502 854 6,288 0 0
44 Baton Rouge, LA 219,913 1,027 5,852 29 64
45 Bogalusa, LA 10,461 1,376 4,445 57 6
46 New Orleans, LA 370,128 1,444 4,640 71 266
47 Natchitoches, LA 17,374 1,105 6,106 34 6
48 Hammond, LA 20,847 1,227 6,586 0 0
49 Opelousas, LA 15,447 2,181 6,182 71 11
50 Alexandria, LA 44,349 1,783 6,322 40 18
51 West Monroe, LA 12,680 1,719 6,458 0 0
52 Monroe, LA 46,908 2,737 6,721 38 18

Breaking Down Crime In The Safest And Most Dangerous Cities In Louisiana

Safest Cities in Louisiana Breakdown

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn.

Safest Cities By State

Enjoy The Snack?

About HomeSnacks

HomeSnacks is based in Durham, NC.

We aim to deliver bite-sized pieces of infotainment about where you live.

We use data, analytics, and a sense of humor to determine quality of life for places across the nation.

© Chasing Chains, LLC. All rights reserved.