8 Cost-Effective Retirement Towns In Louisiana
Choosing a retirement destination is a major decision in one’s life, and the state of Louisiana has a lot to offer retirees with its relatively low taxes and cost of living, not to mention its warm weather. Louisiana’s unique, rich culture and southern charm may provide an additional draw for some seniors looking for a place to spend their retirement. From the beauty of the bayou to historic landmarks and plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation, these eight towns are affordable and particularly well-suited to retirement life, each in its own way, and all of them have median home prices below Louisiana’s median of around $269,000.
Bastrop
Bastrop is a quiet small town in northeastern Louisiana, with its median home price hovering around $151,000. Its proximity to the Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge and plenty of paddle routes make it an ideal retirement destination for seniors who want to stay active in the outdoors. The Snyder Museum and Art Center in downtown Bastrop is accessible and offers free admission. At this museum, visitors can see exhibits about the history of the region and genealogical records, as well as a garden room with a terrace and fountains, and nicely landscaped grounds.
The town square hosts farmers' markets and festivals and boasts a library, churches, and a community center that provides fitness classes. At the Morehouse Country Club, interested golfers can get their fill. Monroe is around a forty minute drive away and offers a wide selection of restaurants, healthcare facilities, and activities, and Bastrop is also only thirty minutes from the Arkansas border if residents desire a quick change of scenery.
Minden
Minden sits in the northwest corner of Louisiana with a median home price of about $190,000. It is another great retirement destination for seniors, with its slow-paced southern charm, easy access to outdoor adventures, and robust antiquing scene. The Caney Lakes Recreation Area provides access to aquatic activities. This area is inside the larger Kisatchie National Forest, a good location for camping, hiking, and fishing. At Pleasure Point Bayou Dorcheat Rentals, there are kayaks available to explore parts of the Dorcheat Bayou, just south of the town of Minden.
In the well-kept red brick Historic Main Street District in downtown Minden, there are shops, restaurants, historic antebellum and Victorian homes, and periodic festivals and craft fairs. Seafood Empire is a restaurant famous for its crawfish and southern fare. Heavenly Treasures, Kim’s Attic, and The Farmer’s Daughter, among several others, are popular antique shops that line Main Street. Minden is also only about forty minutes from Shreveport for more urban services and amenities.
Houma
The median home price in Houma is around $219,000, making it an affordable option in the heart of bayou country. The town's proximity to several bayous and waterways makes it an easy place from which to explore via swamp tours, birding, and fishing trips. At Cajun Boats and Floats in downtown Houma, there are kayaks, canoes, pedal boats, and more for rent so you can explore at your own pace. Houma's rich cultural heritage includes both Cajun and Native American traditions. The Houma people host cultural events with relative frequency, while restaurants, dance halls, and yearly Mardi Gras celebrations honor the Cajun culture of the region.
The Bayou Terrebonne Waterlife Museum teaches visitors about the unique waterfront culture and traditions of Houma, and a Cajun music band plays at the museum every Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, the Regional Military Museum houses artifacts from the Civil War up through the modern era, while the Terrebonne Folklife Cultural Center displays exhibits and artwork from local artists and crafts people, and hosts classes and workshops for the public.
Westlake
Westlake, with a median home price of around $245,000, is a suitable retirement location for seniors who prefer lake living or who enjoy golfing. It is a very small, friendly town near Lake Charles along the Calcasieu River. The lake, the parks of Westlake, and the nearby Sam Houston Jones State Park provide plenty of opportunities for spending time outdoors.
The National Golf Club of Louisiana is also located in Westlake. This club has a golf course, a Players Club, and a rec league. For more fun and games, the Horseshoe Lake Charles is a casino that also has a hotel with an outdoor pool area and a hot tub. In fact, there are plenty of local hotels where family members can stay during visits, including the Mulberry Hotel, which has wheelchair-accessible rooms, laundry facilities, and a back patio where guests can grill.
Eunice
Eunice is a town where Cajun and Creole cultures mix in the prairie region of Louisiana. Residents have easy access to Lafayette without having to pay the higher prices of living in a larger city. Eunice is also home to the Cajun Music Hall of Fame, so it is a great retirement destination for music lovers. Nicknamed the “Crawfish Capital of the World,” crawfish season is a thing to behold in the town's culinary scene, and Louisiana State University hosts many arts, cultural, and academic events throughout the year.
Meanwhile, Eunice City Lake is a nearby outdoor recreational area, and the Eunice Country Club boasts a lovely 9-hole golf course suitable for all skill levels and abilities. The medical services within Eunice are not the most extensive, but Eunice’s proximity to Lafayette compensates for that downside, as does the relatively affordable median home price of around $150,000.
Opelousas
One of the oldest cities in Louisiana is Opelousas. Its median home price hovers at around $190,000, making it accessible for those on a fixed budget. Like Eunice, Opelousas has an interesting and long-standing tradition of Zydeco and Cajun music. The downtown area has Cajun restaurants, antique shops, and other local shops and businesses that serve the needs of residents, while the Opelousas General Health System provides medical care in town.
In the Opelousas National Historical District, people can stroll through the streets and explore 175 years' worth of architectural history. At the Louisiana Orphan Train Museum, housed in a restored Union Pacific Freight Depot, visitors can learn about the history of the 2,000 children who were brought to the area from the streets of New York between 1907 and the late 1920s. Opelousas is part of both the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area and the Thistlewaite Wildlife Management Area, so there are plenty of options for spending time outdoors, such as paddling, biking, and birding in and along the many swamps and waterways.
Thibodaux
Thibodaux was once a haven for exiled Acadians who settled in the area in the mid-1700s, and the Cajun local culture still reflects that history. Home prices are relatively affordable, with a median of around $253,000, and the historic downtown district is very walkable and full of interesting local architecture and restaurants. At the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center, visitors can learn about the history of Acadians and Cajun culture in the area through a short film, live music, exhibits, walking tours of the town, and even boat tours of Bayou Lafourche. The E.D. White Historical Site, only a ten-minute drive from Thibodaux, is the recently-restored home of the former Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and the only Louisiana Chief Justice in U.S. history. This museum, on the banks of Bayou Lafourche, tells the story of the White family, as well as the history of Native Americans, Acadian settlers, and enslaved people of the area.
Nicholls State University provides local access to a range of cultural events and activities, and also helps improve the care that Thibodaux Regional Medical Center provides. To further add to the appeal, Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans is only about an hour from Thibodaux, making family visits and vacations easy, and the Bayou Country Children’s Museum is a great place to spend time with grandchildren.
New Iberia
New Iberia is another retirement destination for those who feel or desire a connection to life on a Louisiana bayou. The town is around halfway between Lafayette and Baton Rouge and features an interesting blend of Cajun and Creole cultures. New Iberia has invested a lot of time and resources into preserving its history, with its restored Main Street and historic downtown area garnering much positive attention from historians. There are museums, like the Bayou Teche Museum, where visitors can explore historical exhibits, and the Shadows-on-the-Teche, a plantation house museum. Of course, there is ample Cajun food and fresh seafood in the area, so there is a lot to love in the culinary scene.
The Rip Van Winkle Gardens on Jefferson Island, semi-tropical gardens with a lake and 350-year-old oak trees, provides a senior discount, and the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve offers the opportunity to engage in outdoor adventures, like hiking, fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing. There are even several yearly festivals and events to add excitement to retirement life, including Mardi Gras celebrations, the Louisiana Sugar Cane Festival, the Books Along Teche Literary Festival, and the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff. With a median home price of around $188,000, New Iberia is a lovely and accessible bayou retirement destination.
Everybody’s perfect retirement destination is different. There are infinite factors and preferences that make up the decision-making process, but for those who feel drawn to the culture, climate, and community of small-town Louisiana, towns like Bastrop, Houma, Minden, Westlake, Eunice, Opelousas, Thibodaux, and New Iberia are affordable options with a lot to offer for seniors. From exploring the bayou to taking advantage of Cajun and Creole culinary delights, there is something for everyone in these sweet spots.
