Best parishes to raise a family in Louisiana
Best parishes to raise a family in Louisiana
For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a parish is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.
Stacker compiled a list of the best parishes to raise a family in Louisiana using 2025 data from Niche. Niche ranks parishes based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
The list features parishes that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best parishes to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.
#25. Iberia Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 69,194
- Median household income: $57,811
- Median home value: $156,000
- Top places to live: Jeanerette (B), New Iberia (B), Loreauville (C)
#24. Vernon Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 47,764
- Median household income: $58,281
- Median home value: $143,500
- Top places to live: New Llano (B+), Leesville (B), Rosepine (B)
#23. St. Martin Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (A-), weather (unavailable), 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)
#22. Allen Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B), cost of living (A), weather (A+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 22,552
- Median household income: $51,138
- Median home value: $110,800
- Top places to live: Oakdale (B), Oberlin (B), Kinder (B)
#21. Natchitoches Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (B-), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 37,047
- Median household income: $46,798
- Median home value: $163,000
- Top places to live: Natchitoches (B), Vienna Bend (B), Provencal (B+)
#20. Plaquemines Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 23,070
- Median household income: $82,874
- Median home value: $275,800
- Top places to live: Belle Chasse (B+), Empire (B+), Port Sulphur (B)
#19. St. James Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (B+), public schools (A-), 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)
#18. West Feliciana Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A), cost of living (B+), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 15,381
- Median household income: $74,277
- Median home value: $263,200
- Top places to live: St. Francisville (B-)
#17. Livingston Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 145,583
- Median household income: $78,617
- Median home value: $218,900
- Top places to live: Watson (A-), Denham Springs (A-), Walker (B+)
#16. Ouachita Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 158,916
- Median household income: $51,241
- Median home value: $183,000
- Top places to live: Claiborne (A-), West Monroe (B+), Swartz (B+)
#15. Terrebonne Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (A-), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 107,362
- Median household income: $64,819
- Median home value: $189,100
- Top places to live: Bayou Cane (B+), Schriever (B+), Bourg (B)
#14. Lafourche Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (B+), cost of living (A-), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 96,670
- Median household income: $63,439
- Median home value: $190,800
- Top places to live: Bayou Country Club (A-), Cut Off (B+), Thibodaux (B+)
#13. Rapides Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (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. West Baton Rouge Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (A-), weather (B+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 27,666
- Median household income: $87,320
- Median home value: $225,900
- Top places to live: Brusly (A-), Addis (A-), Port Allen (B)
#11. LaSalle Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A-), cost of living (A), weather (unavailable), 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)
#10. Calcasieu Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (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+)
#9. St. Bernard Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A), cost of living (B+), weather (A-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 44,172
- Median household income: $57,638
- Median home value: $192,100
- Top places to live: Meraux (A-), Poydras (B+), Arabi (B+)
#8. East Baton Rouge Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (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)
#7. Vermilion Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (A-), public schools (A), cost of living (A), weather (unavailable), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 57,031
- Median household income: $57,537
- Median home value: $159,700
- Top places to live: Erath (B+), Maurice (B+), Delcambre (B+)
#6. Lincoln Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A+), cost of living (B), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 48,160
- Median household income: $38,035
- Median home value: $195,500
- Top places to live: Ruston (B+), Grambling (B-), Vienna (A)
#5. Bossier Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), 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+)
#4. St. Charles Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 51,863
- Median household income: $82,172
- Median home value: $256,800
- Top places to live: Destrehan (A), St. Rose (A), Luling (A-)
#3. St. Tammany Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (A-), 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)
#2. Lafayette Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (A), public schools (B+), 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)
#1. Ascension Parish
- Niche grades: good for families (A+), public schools (A), cost of living (B+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 128,593
- Median household income: $92,266
- Median home value: $265,300
- Top places to live: Prairieville (A), Sorrento (B+), Gonzales (B)
