What it's like to live in Shreveport
Shreveport is a mid-size city in Louisiana with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Shreveport deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, a population that has been shrinking, and hospital ratings below the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Shrinking population
- Below-average hospital ratings
- High poverty rate
- Hot summers
How Shreveport compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Shreveport
Based on Shreveport's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$1,974
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $39,480 a year
- 50% of Shreveport renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$35,780
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $17,890
- Homes cost 3.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 30% below US
$987/mo median rent
Rent here is genuinely low, with median rent around $987 a month. Factoring in local incomes, the value gets even better. Money stretches further here than in most of the country. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $178,900. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $178,900 · 50% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.5%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 253% above US
1163 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 3610/100k · Shreveport Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 28% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.8 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 7% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 93°F, and winters are chilly but manageable, with lows around 39°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
10 hospitals
There are 10 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 2.4 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 21% below US
29% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 29%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
52 public schools inside the boundary
There are 52 public schools inside the boundary and 15 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, close to the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Cane River Creole National Historical Park (73 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Shreveport's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($987/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Shreveport
All Louisiana guides →Moving to Bossier City →
8 mi away · pop. 62,901
Rent $1,107/mo · Income $55,819
Compare with Shreveport →Moving to Natchitoches →
65 mi away · pop. 17,577
Rent $802/mo · Income $37,133
Compare with Shreveport →Not sure Shreveport is the one?
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