Central, LA
Census place 2213960 · pop 29,783
Sales & income are statewide.
The breakdown — worst first
U.S. median 77/100 · worse than most cities
99/100 FEMA risk (higher = riskier) · FEMA National Risk Index — wildfire, flood, earthquake, heat and more. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 24 min · worse than most cities
29 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.
U.S. median 42 AQI · worse than most cities
51 median AQI · Median air quality index — lower is cleaner air. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 1 days · worse than most cities
7 unhealthy-air days per year · Days per year with unhealthy air (AQI above 100). Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities
305 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities
1756 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.
U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities
3.8% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.
U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities
+2.3% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?
U.S. median $214,900 · worse than most cities
$288,700 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.
U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities
13.3% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.
U.S. median 17.4% · better than most cities
17.0% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).
U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities
35.3% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
U.S. median $67,857 · better than most cities
$89,554 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.
U.S. median 0.43 · better than most cities
Gini 0.41 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).
U.S. median 36.5% · better than most cities
31.2% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).
U.S. median 26.5% · better than most cities
20.6% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.
U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities
0.65% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.
U.S. median 90.0% · better than most cities
95.4% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
U.S. median 12.1% · better than most cities
5.4% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.
U.S. median 9.3% · better than most cities
5.9% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.
U.S. median 67.2% · better than most cities
88.8% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.
Not measured for Central: Rent. Not every public source covers every city — EPA air monitors and Zillow rent only reach some places, and national crime data is still being added.
Frequently asked
- Is Central, LA a good place to live?
- By the numbers, Central scores 51/100 — a D (Meh) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 21 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is homeownership and its weakest is natural disaster risk. Louisiana overall ranks #46 of 50 states. Whether it's "good" depends on what you value — re-weight the factors to score it your way.
- How safe is Central, LA?
- Central reports 305 violent crimes per 100k and 1756 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
- Is Central, LA expensive to live in?
- Central has a median home value of $288,700 — pricier than most U.S. cities.
- What's the biggest downside of living in Central, LA?
- Its weakest measured area is natural disaster risk (99/100) — 13/100, worse than most U.S. cities. (A county-level figure.)
- What is Central, LA best at?
- Its strongest measured area is homeownership (88.8%) — 95/100, better than most U.S. cities.
Sources: U.S. Census (ACS), CDC PLACES, FBI Crime Data Explorer, BLS, EPA AirData, FEMA National Risk Index, and Zillow.