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 parishes to retire to in Louisiana based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks parishes 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 parishes recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best parishes to retire to in Louisiana.
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- 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)
- 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)
- 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+)
- 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)
- 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-)
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- 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)
- 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)
- 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+)
- 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+)
- 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)
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- 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-)
- 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+)
- 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+)
- 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)
- 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-)
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- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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+)
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- 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)
- 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+)
- 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-)
- 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)
- 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.
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