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Overall Rating: 85/100 · 257,000 veterans (6% of population)
Military retirement pay 100% exempt from state income tax
0.55% average effective rate
Up to $100
No veteran sales tax exemptions; state sales tax rate 4.45%
$48,000
VA Medical Center
2400 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 412-3700
Primary care, mental health, surgery, cardiology, oncology, neurology, women's health, geriatrics, pharmacy, spinal cord injury care, TBI treatment, 24/7 emergency department
State Tuition Exemption
Children of veterans POW/MIA, killed in action, or 100% disabled; spouses of POW/MIA; surviving spouses and children of deceased veterans
4-year value: $50,000
Median Home
$240,000
1BR Rent
$0/mo
COL Index
92
Unemployment
0%
Major employers: Oil & gas (CGI, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, Halliburton), Ochsner Health, Lafayette General Health, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Pros: Best overall value, strong veteran community (13,000+), affordable housing ($240,000 median), excellent oil & gas and healthcare jobs, rich Cajun culture and festivals, lower crime than New Orleans/Baton Rouge, family-friendly
Cons: VA clinic only (not full medical center - nearest 90 miles), hurricane risk, hot humid summers, oil & gas industry cyclical, French/Cajun culture may feel insular initially
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Buying a home
$0 down, no PMI. Funding fee waived for service-connected veterans.
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