
Study Reveals Best Places to Live in Louisiana in 2026
(KMDL-FM) There is a phrase that every person should consider when choosing where they want to spend the majority of their time. That phrase is "Quality of Life." The folks at U.S. News and World Report have authored their annual study of places that offer "Quality of Life" better than others do, and here's where those places are in Louisiana.
What defines quality of life? I suppose that can mean different things for different people, but in general terms, the quality of life, as far as a place to live is concerned, seems to be about finding a place that satisfies all of our "needs" as humans. That place also satisfies most of our "desires" as humans, too.
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For Louisiana residents, our quality of life is also impacted by our own joie de vivre. We live in a place that's fun, has good food, the weather isn't bad, and as far as state infrastructure and government, did I mention the food was good?

What Louisiana Cities Are Considered To Be The Best Places to Live?
In the most recent survey of Best Places to Live in Louisiana, 13 communities earned the right to be on the list compiled by U.S. News and World Report. The methodology for arriving at which cities earned the honor included quality of education, quality and availability of healthcare, the air quality index, environmental risks, the current economic climate of the community, and the aforementioned infrastructure.
Of the 13 communities represented in the survey, only one Acadiana town made the grade. That community was the city of Lafayette. It was ranked at number four on the survey. Among the highlights for the Hub City were an average commute time of only 17 minutes, a median household income that is above average, and higher than average home values.
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Lake Charles was right behind Lafayette on the list at number five. The commute time in "The Chuck" is listed at 15 minutes. The person who did the survey must not have needed to cross the I-10 bridge, huh? L.C. also had several other positive attributes listed in the survey as well.
What Community Was Chosen As Best Place to Live in Louisiana?
Louisiana's Best Place to Live, according to U.S. News and World Report, is Metairie. Oddly enough, the city that's right next door, Kenner, earned the number two spot on the list. Another New Orleans suburb, Slidell, was noted at number three, followed by the aforementioned Lafayette and Lake Charles to round out the top five.
You can see the entire Best Places to Live List for Louisiana and peruse other states as well. I can tell you that Gulfport earned top honors in Mississippi. Pearland was tops in Texas. Rogers was named the best place to live in Arkansas.
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Gallery Credit: Emma Stefansky
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