
Best counties to retire to in Louisiana
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in Louisiana based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Louisiana.
#25. Bienville Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A), weather (B), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 12,769
- Median household income: $34,992
- Median home value: $93,600
- Top places to live: Arcadia (C+), Castor (B), Lucky (B)
#24. St. Martin Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A-), weather (not available), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 51,559
- Median household income: $53,394
- Median home value: $151,000
- Top places to live: Henderson (B), Breaux Bridge (B), Cade (B)
#23. Bossier Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 129,134
- Median household income: $66,336
- Median home value: $215,100
- Top places to live: Benton (A-), Bossier City (B+), Eastwood (B+)
#22. East Baton Rouge Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 452,821
- Median household income: $63,075
- Median home value: $241,800
- Top places to live: Old Jefferson (A), Downtown (A), Inniswold (A)
#21. Caddo Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (B+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 232,973
- Median household income: $50,067
- Median home value: $175,900
- Top places to live: Blanchard (B-), Greenwood (B-), Shreveport (B-)
#20. De Soto Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A-), weather (A), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 26,897
- Median household income: $46,077
- Median home value: $150,700
- Top places to live: Mansfield (C), Stanley (B), Stonewall (B)
#19. Richland Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A), weather (not available), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 19,908
- Median household income: $52,960
- Median home value: $124,500
- Top places to live: Delhi (C+), Rayville (C-), Start (B)
#18. Franklin Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A), weather (not available), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 19,590
- Median household income: $44,103
- Median home value: $117,200
- Top places to live: Winnsboro (C+), Gilbert (B+), Baskin (C+)
#17. Concordia Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (A), weather (not available), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 18,325
- Median household income: $37,349
- Median home value: $102,400
- Top places to live: Vidalia (C+), Minorca (C+), Ferriday (C+)
#16. St. James Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 19,797
- Median household income: $64,536
- Median home value: $197,800
- Top places to live: South Vacherie (A-), Grand Point (B), North Vacherie (B)
#15. Union Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (not available), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 20,914
- Median household income: $45,743
- Median home value: $115,400
- Top places to live: Farmerville (C-), Lillie (B-), Spearsville (B-)
#14. Beauregard Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (A+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 36,646
- Median household income: $64,995
- Median home value: $164,500
- Top places to live: DeRidder (A-), Merryville (B-), Singer (C+)
#13. Rapides Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 128,470
- Median household income: $55,946
- Median home value: $179,100
- Top places to live: Ball (B+), Woodworth (B+), Pineville (B+)
#12. LaSalle Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (not available), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 14,804
- Median household income: $67,077
- Median home value: $137,200
- Top places to live: Jena (A), Urania (B+), Olla (B)
#11. Caldwell Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (not available), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 9,563
- Median household income: $44,957
- Median home value: $106,000
- Top places to live: Columbia (B), Grayson (B-), Banks Springs (B-)
#10. Sabine Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (A), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 22,085
- Median household income: $52,047
- Median home value: $129,400
- Top places to live: Many (B), Fort Jesup (B+), Converse (B)
#9. Jefferson Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 432,484
- Median household income: $65,246
- Median home value: $243,500
- Top places to live: Metairie (A), River Ridge (A), Harahan (A)
#8. St. Mary Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (not available), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 48,455
- Median household income: $51,768
- Median home value: $128,000
- Top places to live: Berwick (B+), Franklin (B), Amelia (B)
#7. Winn Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (not available), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 13,506
- Median household income: $46,368
- Median home value: $102,600
- Top places to live: Winnfield (B-), Joyce (C), Calvin (C)
#6. Pointe Coupee Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (not available), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 20,438
- Median household income: $59,351
- Median home value: $174,500
- Top places to live: New Roads (B), Ventress (C+), Livonia (C+)
#5. Jackson Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (not available), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 14,939
- Median household income: $43,345
- Median home value: $107,400
- Top places to live: Jonesboro (B-), Eros (B), Chatham (B)
#4. Calcasieu Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B+), weather (A), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 208,668
- Median household income: $67,849
- Median home value: $208,500
- Top places to live: Westlake (A), Prien (A), Moss Bluff (B+)
#3. Jefferson Davis Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (A), weather (A), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 32,083
- Median household income: $56,500
- Median home value: $145,000
- Top places to live: Welsh (B+), Lake Arthur (B+), Jennings (B-)
#2. St. Tammany Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B+), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 269,331
- Median household income: $79,277
- Median home value: $272,200
- Top places to live: Mandeville (A), Madisonville (A), Abita Springs (A)

#1. Lafayette Parish
- Niche grades: good for retirees (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 245,075
- Median household income: $67,660
- Median home value: $234,200
- Top places to live: Broussard (A), Youngsville (A), Lafayette (A)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.