Where People Are Moving To In Louisiana In 2026

Louisiana's population story is becoming more localized. Growth is showing up most clearly in a handful of Lafayette-area suburbs, in Hammond and its surrounding parish, and in the suburbs ringing Baton Rouge. Housing supply and local employment are giving people clear reasons to move within the state. The city numbers below use the latest Vintage 2025 city-and-town estimate series. Migration context comes from county-level components and IRS county-to-county data showing parish-level movement behind the city-level growth.

Carencro

Carencro has one of the clearest growth stories in Louisiana. The city grew from a 2020 estimate base of 9,235 residents to 13,224 in the latest Census estimate, a 43.2% increase. That reflects Carencro's growing role as a practical Lafayette-area choice for residents who want access to the city without living directly in it.

Location is the biggest reason Carencro keeps adding residents. The city sits along I-49 north of Lafayette, giving households access to the Lafayette job market while still offering more room for residential growth. Road access matters here too. DOTD's $43 million I-49 improvement project from I-10 to the St. Landry Parish line points to how important this corridor has become. Carencro's growth is being shaped by transportation access, available housing, and its position as one of the most practical places to land just outside Lafayette.

Hammond

Hammond saw a 23% increase from 2020 to 2025, with an estimated base of 19,541 residents growing to 24,032. That growth has made Hammond one of Louisiana's more visible mid-sized city gainers.

The city's growth is tied to its location and its built-in economic structure. Hammond sits at the crossing of I-12 and I-55, which makes it useful for commuters, students, logistics workers, and people who want access to Baton Rouge, the area north of Lake Pontchartrain, and southeastern Louisiana without living in the middle of those larger markets. Southeastern Louisiana University gives Hammond a strong institutional base, while the downtown area, medical offices, and interstate commercial development give new residents more than just a place to sleep at the end of the day. Hammond works because it combines college-town energy, highway access, and enough local services to feel self-contained.

Youngsville

Youngsville grew from the 2020 estimate base of 15,920 to 19,980 in the latest Census estimate. That 25.5% increase makes it one of the fastest-growing cities in the Lafayette area. Local reporting in 2025 noted that Youngsville has seen a 300% population increase over the past three decades.

Youngsville has become one of the Lafayette area's strongest new-housing markets. Subdivisions such as Copper Meadows and Field Crest Estates show how much of the city's growth is tied to residential development. Residents have access to Lafayette Parish schools within a suburban layout that keeps them close to Lafayette's jobs, restaurants, hospitals, and shopping. Youngsville is growing because families and working households are choosing the south side of the Lafayette area when they want more space, newer housing options, and a manageable drive to places like Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center, and the Ambassador Caffery commercial corridor.

Broussard

Broussard grew from a 2020 estimate base of 13,447 residents to 15,799 in 2025, a 17.5% increase. Its growth overlaps with the broader Lafayette-area expansion, but Broussard has a more distinct commercial and industrial identity than some nearby suburbs.

That job base is a major part of the city's appeal. Broussard has focused economic development around Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Highway 90, and Louisiana Economic Development-certified sites. One Acadiana, a regional economic development organization, points to the South Morgan site as an example of Broussard's commercial growth potential. The 21-acre property sits along Ambassador Caffery, less than five miles from U.S. Highway 90 and a short drive from I-10, Lafayette Regional Airport, and the Port of Iberia. That gives Broussard a practical growth formula of housing, commercial sites, industrial access, and major roads all close together. People are moving there because it offers both residential growth and a working economic base.

Scott

Scott experienced a 17.9% increase from a 2020 estimate base of 8,173 residents to 9,635 in 2025. It is smaller than Lafayette, Youngsville, or Broussard, but that is part of what makes its growth notable. Scott is adding residents while keeping a more compact city footprint.

The reason for Scott's growth is access, but the city has more going for it than location alone. Scott sits near I-10 and U.S. 90, giving residents a direct connection to Lafayette and the region's employment corridors. It is also close to Lafayette Regional Airport and the logistics and oilfield service network that still shapes parts of the regional economy. The city's identity is more grounded than its size suggests, with local stops such as The Begnaud House Heritage Visitor Center and its well-known boudin shops giving Scott more local texture than a simple Lafayette-area commuter stop. Scott is the ideal spot for people who want Lafayette-area job access in a smaller city setting. Scott's growth may be less flashy than Youngsville's, but the appeal is clear. It offers highway access, available housing, and enough local identity to stand on its own.

Gonzales

Gonzales grew from a 2020 estimate base of 12,089 residents to 13,930 in 2025, a 15.2% increase. The city sits between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, and that location remains one of its biggest growth advantages.

Gonzales is growing because it offers a strong mix of highway access, jobs, retail, and housing. I-10 puts the city within reach of Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and the industrial corridor along the Mississippi River. That matters for workers who need regional access but do not want to live in the largest nearby city. Gonzales also has a defined commercial identity around Tanger Outlets Gonzales, nearby shopping centers, and the Highway 30 corridor. The city feels less like a distant suburb and more like a self-contained growth center with its own employment, retail, and residential pull. That combination makes it easy to see why people are choosing Gonzales rather than simply passing through it.

Addis

Addis saw a 14.1% hike from a 2020 estimate base of 6,731 residents to 7,679 in 2025. It is smaller than most places on this list, but its growth is meaningful as it shows how much demand there is for towns with direct access to Baton Rouge and room for new households.

Addis has a simple location advantage. It sits near LA 1 and the Mississippi River bridge connection into Baton Rouge, making it practical for people who work in or around the capital but want a smaller-town setting. New-home communities such as Sugar Mill Plantation give the town room to absorb more residents. Addis also has everyday local gathering points, including the Addis Museum, which keeps the town from feeling like only a pass-through stop along LA 1. DataUSA's 2024 profile lists a median age of 33.8 and a median household income above $100,000, which shows why Addis is adding households that can support new housing and local businesses.

How Growth Is Reshaping Louisiana's Map

Louisiana's growth is becoming more concentrated in the places that can support new households, commuter access, and local business activity. Lafayette Parish cities, parts of the Baton Rouge suburban ring, Tangipahoa Parish, and smaller towns such as Addis show where residents are finding room to stay connected to jobs while choosing communities with space to grow. That movement will shape the next few years through new subdivisions, busier commercial corridors, school enrollment changes, and continued road investment in growth areas. Louisiana's fastest-growing places are making it clear where people are choosing to stay, move, and build the next version of home.