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Overall Rating: 85/100 · 257,000 veterans (6% of population)
Reviewed 2026. Programs and exemptions verified against Louisiana veterans-affairs and tax-authority sources.
Benefit details verified January 2025. Tax exemptions, caps, and eligibility change and can vary by county — always confirm current figures with your county assessor and your Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs before you rely on them.
Military retirement pay 100% exempt from state income tax
0.55% average effective rate
Full exemption
100% (or TDIU/SAH): full parish ad valorem exemption. 70–99% adds $4,500, 50–69% adds $2,500 of value atop the $7,500 homestead. Municipal taxes may remain.
Source ↗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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$0 down, no PMI. Funding fee waived for service-connected veterans.
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Louisiana adds 5 preference points to civil service exam scores for honorably discharged veterans and 10 points for veterans with a service-connected disability. Points apply to original appointment (not promotions), and preference also extends to a veteran's spouse, surviving spouse, and surviving parents.
Official source ↗Louisiana residents and non-residents with a permanent service-connected disability rating of 50% or more receive a free hunting and fishing license covering Basic and Saltwater Fishing, Basic/Deer/Waterfowl/Turkey Hunting, and the WMA Access Permit (the $4 fee is covered by the LA Wildlife & Fisheries Foundation).
Official source ↗Disabled veterans, plus anyone accompanying them in a single private vehicle, receive free admission to all Louisiana State Parks and historic sites with a State Park Permit (apply through your local parish veterans service office).
Official source ↗Veterans with a service-connected disability of at least 50% qualify for a free disabled veteran license plate; a 100%-rated veteran qualifies for the 100% DAV plate. Apply in person at an OMV office with a copy of the vehicle registration and a VA eligibility affidavit; the plate carries the same privileges as mobility-impaired plates.
Official source ↗The Louisiana OMV offers a 'Veteran' (and 'Disabled Veteran') designation on driver's licenses and ID cards for honorably discharged veterans. Veterans with an honorable discharge and 50%+ service-connected compensation may also qualify for a free license.
Official source ↗The LA Department of Veterans Affairs runs five veterans homes: Louisiana Veterans Home (Jackson), Northeast LA (Monroe), Northwest LA (Bossier City), Southeast LA (Reserve), and Southwest LA (Jennings). Eligible: honorably discharged veterans with 90 days active duty (wartime or peacetime), eligible Guard/Reservists, spouses of veterans, and Gold Star parents. Veterans rated 70%+ service-connected reside free.
Official source ↗Surviving spouses and children of deceased veterans (and spouses of POW/MIA veterans) receive a full in-state tuition and school-imposed fee exemption at Louisiana public colleges. Available where the veteran died in service or from a service-connected disability during a wartime period; can be combined with GI Bill benefits.
Official source ↗The surviving spouse of a veteran rated 100% (or totally disabled / 100% individual unemployability) by the VA remains eligible for the disabled-veteran ad valorem property tax exemption, provided the spouse occupies and remains owner of the primary residence.
Official source ↗Sourced from official state agencies; programs and eligibility change — confirm with your Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs before applying.