The Safest and Most Dangerous Cities In Louisiana - 2018 Ranking!
Named in honor of Louis XIV of France, Louisiana was a French crown colony in 1731, a Spanish colony in 1763, and a French colony again 1800, before it was sold to the United States by Napoleon in 1803’s Louisiana Purchase
When we think of Louisiana, we instantly think of New Orleans. Jazz, Bourbon Street, French Quarter, but aside from all that, Louisiana is an excellent place to live. It is a true Southern state and the 25th largest state in the country. In terms of population, it is home to 4.6 million residents. Its largest city is New Orleans, and the capital of the state is Baton Rouge.
This state is one of two in the United States that do not have counties. Instead, they refer to their different subdivisions as parishes. Each parish operates much like a city does, having its own rules, and departments.
Louisiana also has strong manufacturing industries, including coal products, paper, lumber, and processed food. 15% of Louisiana’s land mass is water, divided between lakes, rivers, deltas, and swamps, making it is the 4th largest shipping port in the world and the largest supplier of crawfish.
The state is best known for its mix of cultures, from African, French, Spanish to Native American. This can be tasted in the food, heard in the music, seen in the streets, and felt in conversation with its residents.
If you are considering moving to Louisiana or you already live there, make sure to continue reading to find out how safe Louisiana is compared to other states, and learn about its ten safest cities based on the most recent FBI crime report.
Ranking at #48 in terms of safety, Louisiana is an interesting and culturally diverse state. It is also home to 4.682 million residents.
When it comes to safe and dangerous cities, Harahan, maintains its spot as the state’s safest city, with a 1442 crime rate per 100,000 people.
The popular tourist destination, New Orleans, does not make any of the lists; as it ranks at #31 with a 4990 crime rate per 100,000 people. More populous cities, such as Bossier city and Lafayette, are also in between, ranked at #33 and #34 safe-wise. The capital city, Baton Rouge also ranked #32 with a 5288 crime rate per 100,000 people.
On the other hand, Bastrop holds its spot as the most dangerous city in Louisiana with a 12959 crime rate per 100,000 people. Coming after Bastrop is Monroe, which previously ranked #2 is now ranked #3 in the list of the most dangerous cities.
Find out if your city is one of the safest in the state, then review our resources for crime prevention tips and home security information.
More Information About Louisiana
Capital: Baton Rouge
Number of Parishes: 64
Overall Population: 4.682 million inhabitants
Land Area: 52,271.3 square miles
Education Statistics: 23.0% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher, (percent of persons age 25 years+, 2011-2015)
Unemployment Rate: 4.7%
Crime Stats In Louisiana
Violent Crime Rate Per 100,000 Inhabitants: 566.1
Property Crime Rate Per 100,000 Inhabitants: 3,297.7
Louisiana’s Safety Rank: #48
Disclaimer:
In creating this ranking, we excluded all cities with population less than 5,000 residents as well as any cities that failed to submit a complete crime report to the FBI.
Table 1: Top 20 Safest Cities In Louisiana
| Rank |
City |
Population |
Total Crime Rate
Per 100,000 Inhabitants |
| 1 |
Harahan
Previous rank: 1 |
9364 |
1442.0 |
| 2 |
Oakdale
Previous rank: Not Ranked |
7697 |
1559.0 |
| 3 |
Patterson
Previous rank: 2 |
6105 |
1670.0 |
| 4 |
Saint Gabriel
Previous rank: Not Ranked |
7183 |
1781.0 |
| 5 |
DeRidder
Previous rank: 7 |
10939 |
1929.0 |
| 6 |
Minden
Previous rank: 6 |
12615 |
2196.0 |
| 7 |
Port Allen
Previous rank: 3 |
5116 |
2247.0 |
| 8 |
Carencro
Previous rank: 16 |
8763 |
2271.0 |
| 9 |
Mandeville
Previous rank: 5 |
12423 |
2382.0 |
| 10 |
Scott
Previous rank: 4 |
9092 |
2640.0 |
| 11 |
Broussard
Previous rank: 16 |
11998 |
2658.0 |
| 12 |
Westwego
Previous rank: 8 |
8543 |
3009.0 |
| 13 |
Ruston
Previous rank: 13 |
22416 |
3275.0 |
| 14 |
Springhill
Previous rank: 18 |
5064 |
3338.0 |
| 15 |
Covington
Previous rank: 17 |
10178 |
3390.0 |
| 16 |
Rayne
Previous rank: 20 |
8031 |
3425.0 |
| 17 |
Jennings
Previous rank: 10 |
10140 |
3452.0 |
| 18 |
Kenner
Previous rank: Not Ranked |
67164 |
3617.0 |
| 19 |
Zachary
Previous rank: 12 |
16753 |
3630.0 |
| 20 |
Gretna
Previous rank: 9 |
17908 |
4027.0 |
Table 2: Top 20 Most Dangerous Cities In Louisiana
| Rank |
City |
Population |
Total Crime Rate
Per 100,000 Inhabitants |
| 1 |
Bastrop
Previous rank: 1 |
10595 |
12959.0 |
| 2 |
Monroe
Previous rank: 3 |
49677 |
12357.0 |
| 3 |
Hammond
Previous rank: 2 |
20576 |
11747.0 |
| 4 |
Alexandria
Previous rank: 4 |
47936 |
10376.0 |
| 5 |
Opelousas
Previous rank: 9 |
16557 |
9501.0 |
| 6 |
Gonzales
Previous rank: 5 |
10860 |
8766.0 |
| 7 |
Ponchatoula
Previous rank: 7 |
7168 |
8482.0 |
| 8 |
West Monroe
Previous rank: 7 |
12942 |
8322.0 |
| 9 |
Marksville
Previous rank: 14 |
5499 |
8184.0 |
| 10 |
Breaux Bridge
Previous rank: 11 |
8446 |
8158.0 |
| 11 |
Natchitoches
Previous rank: 12 |
18332 |
8068.0 |
| 12 |
Leesville
Previous rank: 10 |
6270 |
7863.0 |
| 13 |
Pineville
Previous rank: 16 |
14379 |
7191.0 |
| 14 |
Bogalusa
Previous rank: 13 |
11882 |
6892.0 |
| 15 |
Denham Springs
Previous rank: 8 |
10107 |
6768.0 |
| 16 |
Ville Platte
Previous rank: 15 |
7234 |
6649.0 |
| 17 |
Shreveport
Previous rank: 19 |
196467 |
6406.0 |
| 18 |
Eunice
Previous rank: 17 |
10291 |
5996.0 |
| 19 |
Morgan City
Previous rank: 41 |
11731 |
5916.0 |
| 20 |
Lafayette
Previous rank: 21 |
128923 |
5474.0 |
Table 3: All Cities, Ranked By Population
| City |
Population |
Total Crime Rate
Per 100,000 Inhabitants |
Safety Rank |
| New Orleans |
397208 |
4990.0 |
31 |
| Baton Rouge |
228389 |
5288.0 |
32 |
| Shreveport |
196467 |
6406.0 |
37 |
| Lafayette |
128923 |
5474.0 |
34 |
| Lake Charles |
76864 |
4953.0 |
30 |
| Bossier City |
69384 |
5464.0 |
33 |
| Kenner |
67164 |
3617.0 |
18 |
| Monroe |
49677 |
12357.0 |
52 |
| Alexandria |
47936 |
10376.0 |
50 |
| Houma |
34410 |
4586.0 |
24 |
| Slidell |
28107 |
4729.0 |
27 |
| Ruston |
22416 |
3275.0 |
13 |
| Hammond |
20576 |
11747.0 |
51 |
| Sulphur |
20142 |
4930.0 |
29 |
| Natchitoches |
18332 |
8068.0 |
43 |
| Gretna |
17908 |
4027.0 |
20 |
| Zachary |
16753 |
3630.0 |
19 |
| Opelousas |
16557 |
9501.0 |
49 |
| Thibodaux |
14588 |
4682.0 |
25 |
| Pineville |
14379 |
7191.0 |
41 |
| Crowley |
13119 |
4101.0 |
22 |
| West Monroe |
12942 |
8322.0 |
46 |
| Minden |
12615 |
2196.0 |
6 |
| Abbeville |
12471 |
4739.0 |
28 |
| Mandeville |
12423 |
2382.0 |
9 |
| Broussard |
11998 |
2658.0 |
11 |
| Bogalusa |
11882 |
6892.0 |
40 |
| Morgan City |
11731 |
5916.0 |
35 |
| DeRidder |
10939 |
1929.0 |
5 |
| Gonzales |
10860 |
8766.0 |
48 |
| Bastrop |
10595 |
12959.0 |
53 |
| Eunice |
10291 |
5996.0 |
36 |
| Covington |
10178 |
3390.0 |
15 |
| Jennings |
10140 |
3452.0 |
17 |
| Denham Springs |
10107 |
6768.0 |
39 |
| Harahan |
9364 |
1442.0 |
1 |
| Scott |
9092 |
2640.0 |
10 |
| Carencro |
8763 |
2271.0 |
8 |
| Westwego |
8543 |
3009.0 |
12 |
| Breaux Bridge |
8446 |
8158.0 |
44 |
| Rayne |
8031 |
3425.0 |
16 |
| Oakdale |
7697 |
1559.0 |
2 |
| Franklin |
7236 |
4699.0 |
26 |
| Ville Platte |
7234 |
6649.0 |
38 |
| Saint Gabriel |
7183 |
1781.0 |
4 |
| Ponchatoula |
7168 |
8482.0 |
47 |
| Plaquemine |
6825 |
4132.0 |
23 |
| Walker |
6351 |
4031.0 |
21 |
| Leesville |
6270 |
7863.0 |
42 |
| Patterson |
6105 |
1670.0 |
3 |
| Marksville |
5499 |
8184.0 |
45 |
| Port Allen |
5116 |
2247.0 |
7 |
| Springhill |
5064 |
3338.0 |
14 |
