Natchitoches, LA

Census place 2253545 · pop 17,577

F29/ 100
💀 Bad
F
in LA
📍 Louisiana ranks #46 of 50 states →
🏆 Prop tax0.40% · top 4%
🚽 Poverty35.9% · bottom 1%
Taxes
0.40% property · US 0.99%10.11% sales · US 7.00%3.00% flat income · US 4.63%

Sales & income are statewide.

The breakdown — worst first

Poverty rate35.9%1

U.S. median 12.1% · worse than most cities

35.9% live in poverty · Share of residents living below the federal poverty line.

Poor mental health22.5%1

U.S. median 17.4% · worse than most cities

22.5% of adults · Adults reporting frequent poor mental health (14+ days a month).

Median household income$37,1332

U.S. median $67,857 · worse than most cities

$37,133 median household income · Median household income — a proxy for local economic health.

Income inequality0.544

U.S. median 0.43 · worse than most cities

Gini 0.54 (0 = equal, 1 = unequal) · Gini index of household income (0 = equal, 1 = unequal).

Property crime rate4456/100k4

U.S. median 964/100k · worse than most cities

4456 property crimes per 100k · Burglary, theft, motor-vehicle theft and arson per 100,000 residents.

Violent crime rate909/100k5

U.S. median 152/100k · worse than most cities

909 violent crimes per 100k · Violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents.

Homeownership41.6%5

U.S. median 67.2% · worse than most cities

41.6% own their home · Share of occupied homes that are owner-occupied.

Broadband access83.1%7

U.S. median 90.0% · worse than most cities

83.1% of homes have broadband · Share of households with a broadband internet subscription.

Adult obesity42.9%8

U.S. median 36.5% · worse than most cities

42.9% of adults · Share of adults with obesity (BMI ≥ 30).

Adult smoking18.8%10

U.S. median 14.6% · worse than most cities

18.8% of adults · Share of adults who currently smoke.

Physical inactivity34.3%11

U.S. median 26.5% · worse than most cities

34.3% of adults · Adults with no leisure-time physical activity.

Unemployment rateCounty-level5.0%12

U.S. median 3.6% · worse than most cities

5.0% unemployment · Share of the labor force out of work. Published by county, not city — every city in the county shares this figure.

Population growth (5yr)-1.8%20

U.S. median +2.4% · worse than most cities

-1.8% population change (5yr) · 5-year population change — are people moving in, or fleeing?

Uninsured adults10.3%43

U.S. median 9.3% · worse than most cities

10.3% of adults · Adults 18–64 without health insurance.

Bachelor's degree or higher30.3%50

U.S. median 24.3% · better than most cities

30.3% have a bachelor's degree or higher · Share of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Housing cost$193,20073

U.S. median $214,900 · better than most cities

$193,200 median home value · Median home value — how expensive it is to buy in. Higher = less affordable.

Natural disaster riskCounty-level62/10082

U.S. median 77/100 · better than most cities

62/100 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.

Commute time16 min93

U.S. median 24 min · better than most cities

16 min average one-way commute · Average one-way commute to work, in minutes.

Property-tax burden0.40%96

U.S. median 0.99% · better than most cities

0.40% of home value paid in property tax · Median real-estate taxes paid as a share of home value.

Not measured for Natchitoches: Air, Bad air, 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 Natchitoches, LA a good place to live?
By the numbers, Natchitoches scores 29/100 — a F (Bad) on Shcity, which ranks U.S. cities on public data across 19 metrics like crime, cost, jobs and health. Its strongest area is property-tax burden and its weakest is poverty rate. 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 Natchitoches, LA?
Natchitoches reports 909 violent crimes per 100k and 4456 property crimes per 100k — worse than most U.S. cities on violent crime.
Is Natchitoches, LA expensive to live in?
Natchitoches has a median home value of $193,200 — more affordable than most U.S. cities.
What's the biggest downside of living in Natchitoches, LA?
Its weakest measured area is poverty rate (35.9%) — 1/100, worse than most U.S. cities.
What is Natchitoches, LA best at?
Its strongest measured area is property-tax burden (0.40%) — 96/100, 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.