Louisianaincome tax up to 3%, 9th lowest property tax, median home $215K
R+20 · Moderate tax burden · COL index 91
3%
Income Tax
587
Violent Crime / 100K
73
Life Expectancy
$215K
Median Home
$830
Childcare / Mo
Louisiana in plain English
Worth knowing before you move to Louisiana
Louisiana moved to a flat 3% income tax in 2025 and has one of the highest combined sales-tax rates in the nation. The homestead exemption removes the first $75,000 of home value from property tax, which keeps property bills low. Hurricane and flood exposure drives insurance costs across the southern parishes, and several insurers have left the state since 2020.
What Louisiana taxes, and what it doesn't
Louisiana levies a graduated income tax that tops out at 3%. A household earning $75,000 pays an effective 3.0%, about $2,250 a year; at $150,000 the effective rate is 3.0%. Among the 41 states that tax income, Louisiana has the 5th lowest effective rate at $100,000 of income.
Property tax runs 0.53% of home value a year, roughly $1,140 on the state's median home of $215K. The national effective rate is about 1.10%, and Louisiana has the 9th lowest rate of the 50 states.
Combined state and local sales tax averages 9.56%, the highest in the country (the state portion is 4.45%).
For retirees: Social Security benefits are not taxed, pension income is partly exempt, and there is no estate or inheritance tax.
Capital gains are taxed as ordinary income.
Housing and the cost of living in Louisiana
Louisiana's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average; that is the 13th cheapest of the 50 states.
The median home costs $215K, 29% below the national figure and the 4th lowest among the states. A two-bedroom rents for about $1,100 a month.
Carrying costs matter as much as the price: home insurance averages $3,000 a year, flood coverage adds about $1,800 where it is needed, car insurance runs $2,950.
Budget $100 a month for electricity and gas, $430 a month in groceries for two, $830 a month for full-time infant care.
Safety, health and schools
Violent crime is 587 incidents per 100,000 residents in the FBI's 2023 Crime Data Explorer figures, above the median state (387); Louisiana is the 6th most violent of the 50 by that measure. Property crime is 2,426 per 100,000.
Life expectancy is 73 years (County Health Rankings 2024). 8.5% of residents have no health insurance, and the state has expanded Medicaid. The Commonwealth Fund's 2023 scorecard ranks Louisiana's health system 45th of 50.
Education Week's 2023 Quality Counts report ranks K-12 schools 47th in the country, and the state runs a school-choice voucher program.
Politics, guns and social policy
Politically, Louisiana is a solidly Republican state that went to Trump by 20 points in 2024.
On guns, no permit is required to carry a concealed handgun, and Giffords grades the state's gun laws F.
Abortion is banned with narrow exceptions. Marijuana is medical only. Louisiana is a right-to-work state, and the minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
Climate, risk and getting around
Natural disaster risk is very high. The main hazards are hurricane, flood, tornado. Annual average air quality index is 36 (under 50 is good).
Louisiana has a major hub airport, with about 80 nonstop destinations from its busiest airport.
Written from the figures on this page. Rankings compare the 50 states. Sources and years are listed with each figure below.
Largest counties in Louisiana
State Profile
Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
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Taxes
Sources: state revenue departments · Tax Foundation 2026 · income-tax brackets 2026
Income Tax
Top rate reduced to 3% in 2025
Property Tax
~$1,140/yr on median home
Sales Tax
Social Security
Pension / IRA
Estate Tax
Inheritance Tax
Capital Gains
Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
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Housing & Cost of Living
Sources: Zillow · Census ACS · iii.org and state insurers 2026 · WRLURI 2018 · Census 2024 (HOA)
Price Level vs US (BEA)
Below US average (100)
Mortgages 90+ Days Late
FHFA, latest quarter
Cost of Living Index
National avg = 100
Median Home Price
Median Rent (2BR)
Home Insurance
Well above national avg (~$1,900/yr)
Flood Insurance
Homestead Exemption
Home equity protected from creditors
Asset Protection
Homes in HOAs
Moderate HOA presence (Census ACS 2024)
Zoning Restrictiveness
Middle of the pack (Wharton WRLURI 2018)
Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)
No statewide STR framework; local control (New Orleans restrictive).
Warning: Insurance Market Stress
11+ insurer insolvencies since 2022; LA Citizens (insurer of last resort) grew from ~35K to ~140K policies. Get an insurance quote before you buy here.
Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
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Crime & Safety
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023 · SafeHome registry counts 2025 · HUD PIT 2024
Violent Crime Rate
Well above national avg
Property Crime Rate
Near national avg
Traffic Fatality Rate
Registered Sex Offenders
Below the state median (SafeHome 2025)
Homeless Population
Low homelessness rate; 45% unsheltered (HUD 2024 PIT)
More on Louisiana
Healthcare#45 of 50▾
Sources: Commonwealth Fund 2023 · KFF · CDC
State Healthcare Rank
Bottom tier
Life Expectancy
Medicaid Expansion
Uninsured Rate
EducationK-12 #47 of 50▾
Sources: Education Week 2023 · NCES · state statutes (school choice)
College Completion Rate
College Scorecard, in-state institutions (mean)
Avg College Cost of Attendance
College Scorecard 2024
K-12 Quality Rank
Bottom 10 nationally
School Choice / Vouchers
HS Graduation Rate
Below national avg (~87%)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
Near national avg (~16)
Childcare$830/mo infant care▾
Sources: Child Care Aware · Census ACS 2022
Avg Infant Care (Full-Time)
Below national avg
Utilities & Daily Costs$100/mo energy▾
Sources: EIA (electricity, weekly gas) · USDA · eGRID 2022
Grid Carbon Intensity
Near US average (~820)
Avg Monthly Energy Bill
Below national avg
Electricity Rate
Below national avg (13¢)
Energy Mix
Avg Monthly Groceries
2-person household, moderate spending
Road Quality Rank
Among the worst roads in the US
Airports & Travel80+ nonstop routes▾
Sources: FAA · BTS
Nonstop Destinations
From state's primary airport
Major Hub Airport
Top-25 US airport by passengers
Culture & Lifestyle73% urban▾
Sources: Census CBP · Brewers Association 2024 · Pollstar · AANR/TNS · AGA 2024
Urban Population
Mix of urban and rural
Restaurant Density
Religious Congregations
Pro Sports Teams
NFL + NBA + MLB + NHL + MLS
Major Venues
Stadiums, arenas, amphitheaters (10K+ capacity)
Craft Breweries
1.3/100K residents: Limited
Craft Distilleries
Live Music
New Orleans jazz capital of the world; French Quarter, Frenchmen Street; Jazz Fest is a pilgrimage
Transportation$2,950/yr car insurance▾
Sources: NHTSA FARS · FCC · insurance rate surveys 2024 · IIHS helmet laws 2026
Car Insurance (Avg Annual)
Very expensive (national avg ~$1,600)
Traffic Fatality Rate
Broadband Access
Below national avg
Work From Home
State residents who primarily work from home (ACS)
Social & Legal$7.25/hr minimum wage▾
Sources: Guttmacher · KFF · NCSL · state statutes 2026
Formal Volunteering Rate
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023 (US ~28%)
Votes in Local Elections
AmeriCorps / Census CPS 2023
Abortion Access
Near-total ban; trigger law took effect after Dobbs
LGBTQ+ Protections
Marijuana
Minimum Wage
Right to Work
Sports Betting
Casino Gambling
Online Gambling
State Lottery
New Orleans casino culture is iconic. Sports betting legal since 2021. One of the more gambling-friendly cultures in the South.
Age of Consent
Sex Education
Sex ed required by state
Nude Beaches & Naturist Clubs
New Orleans Fat Monday Lundi Gras events — clothing optional sections · Bayou naturist groups
Environment & ClimateAQI 36▾
Sources: EPA AQI · NOAA · FEMA National Risk Index
Air Quality (Annual AQI)
Near national avg
Natural Disaster Risk
Primary Hazards
Politics & Gun LawsR+20 · gun law grade F▾
Sources: OpenElections 2024 · Giffords 2025 · state statutes
2024 Presidential Vote
Gun Laws
Carry Permit
Purchase Permit Required
Carry in Bars
Carry in Restaurants
Carry in Places of Worship
Prohibited where alcohol served; worship prohibited by default with narrow church-security exception.
Gambling
Jobs & Economy4% unemployment▾
Sources: BLS QCEW 2024 · BLS JOLTS 2024 · BLS union membership 2025 · Census ACS
Job Openings Rate (JOLTS)
Tight labor market (US ~4.5%)
Quits Rate (JOLTS)
Workers quit when they can find better; BLS 2024 average
Job Market
+0.8% job growth · 4% unemployment
Top Industries
Tech Jobs
Healthcare Jobs
Remote Work
Median Household Income
Union Membership
Among the least unionized states (BLS 2025)
Business Climate#33 of 50▾
Sources: Tax Foundation · state filings
Corporate Income Tax
LLC Formation Fee
LLC Annual Fee
Business Climate Rank
Daily Life$2.92/gal gas▾
Sources: American Pyrotechnics Association · state statutes 2026 · IIHS
Gas Price (Regular)
Well below avg (-0.38 vs national avg)
Consumer Fireworks
Consumer fireworks broadly legal
Motorcycle Helmet Law
Required for all riders (IIHS 2026)
Weather & Natural Risks92°F avg July▾
Sources: NOAA · NWS Storm Prediction Center · FEMA NRI
Winter Severity
Avg January high: 62°F
Summer Heat
Hot summers
Annual Rainfall
Tornado Risk
Hurricane Risk
Wildfire Risk
Flood Risk
Natural Hazards71/100 danger▾
Sources: USGS · CDC · USDA APHIS · NOAA · FEMA NRI 2023
Venomous Snakes
Spider Hazard
Scorpions
Hurricane Risk
Tornado Risk
Wildfire Risk
Earthquake Risk
Armadillo Leprosy Risk
Danger score is a composite index. Methodology ↗
Veteran Benefits77/100 veteran-friendly▾
Sources: VA.gov · Military.com state guide · Tax Foundation
Veteran-Friendly Score
6.5% of state population are veterans
Property Tax Exemption
Disabled vet homestead exemption
Military Retirement Pay
Active Duty Pay
VA Facilities Access
Notable Benefits
Explore Louisiana counties
Income, housing, poverty, healthcare, ranked by county
See your full cost of living in Louisiana
Housing, taxes, childcare, insurance: all estimated.
Compare Similar States
LA vs GA
Louisiana vs Georgia
COL 91 vs 91 · 3% vs 4.99% income tax
Full comparison →
LA vs NE
Louisiana vs Nebraska
COL 91 vs 91 · 3% vs 4.55% income tax
Full comparison →
LA vs TN
Louisiana vs Tennessee
COL 91 vs 92 · 3% vs No income tax
Full comparison →
LA vs SC
Louisiana vs South Carolina
COL 91 vs 93 · 3% vs 5.21% income tax
Full comparison →
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Data is informational only. Verify with a tax professional, real estate agent, and local sources before making relocation decisions. Crime data: FBI Crime Data Explorer 2023. Healthcare: Commonwealth Fund 2023; life expectancy from County Health Rankings 2024. Education: Education Week 2023. Housing: Zillow monthly index and Census ACS 2022. Insurance: rate surveys 2024. Sponsored links marked “Sponsored” may earn a commission. This does not affect our data or rankings.