Who Should NOT Move to Louisiana?
Louisiana is probably not the right fit for movers seeking a low sales tax burden, anyone dismissive of its real, severe homeowners-insurance crisis, families who haven't confirmed their specific target district given last-place statewide rankings, or anyone assuming their target parish shares New Orleans's own recent, genuine crime-decline headlines.
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Learn moreMovers seeking a low overall sales tax burden
Anyone prioritizing a low sales tax should reconsider: Louisiana's average combined state-and-local sales tax rate is a real, current 10.11% -- the single highest of any state in the nation per the Tax Foundation's 2026 report -- a direct consequence of the state raising its base rate from 4.45% to 5% to fund the 2024 income-tax cut. This is a genuine, ongoing everyday-cost factor on every taxable purchase, not a one-time closing cost.
Anyone dismissive of Louisiana's real, severe, and currently ongoing insurance crisis
Anyone assuming homeowners insurance is a minor, stable line item should reconsider: following Hurricanes Laura/Delta (2020) and Ida (2021), a dozen-plus private insurers went insolvent or exited Louisiana entirely, and this pass's 2026 sources disclose a real, current premium spread of $4,644-$7,304/year -- genuinely among the highest in the country, even as the pace of annual rate increases has slowed from double digits (2022-2023) to just over 4% in 2025. Confirm a current quote directly for any specific target property before committing.
Families who haven't confirmed their specific target district, given last-place statewide rankings
Anyone assuming Louisiana's statewide education system matches the national average should reconsider: U.S. News's Best States for 2025 ranking placed Louisiana last (50th) overall, with education cited directly among its weakest categories, and America's Health Rankings' 2025 report placed Louisiana last (50th) nationally for overall health. Confirm your specific target parish's current district performance and local healthcare access directly rather than relying on the statewide figure alone -- see the schools and healthcare topics.
Anyone assuming their specific target parish shares New Orleans's recent crime-decline headlines
Anyone assuming their target Louisiana parish automatically shares New Orleans's own real, dramatic 2025 homicide decline (down to a 50-year low) should reconsider: Louisiana's statewide crime picture remains genuinely severe by historical standards -- the nation's highest murder rate for 36 consecutive years through 2024 and the 2nd-highest incarceration rate nationally as of 2023 data -- and New Orleans's own improvement, while real and sustained, does not automatically describe every other parish. Confirm current, local, parish-level data directly.
Key takeaways
- Probably not the right fit for movers seeking a low overall sales tax burden, given Louisiana's real, nation-highest 10.11% average combined rate.
- Probably not the right fit for anyone dismissive of Louisiana's real, severe insurance crisis -- a dozen-plus insurers exited post-Laura/Delta/Ida, and premiums run $4,644-$7,304/year.
- Probably not the right fit for families or health-conscious movers who haven't confirmed their specific target parish directly, given Louisiana's last-place (50th) statewide education and health rankings.
- Probably not the right fit for anyone assuming their target parish shares New Orleans's recent crime-decline headline alone -- Louisiana's statewide crime and incarceration profile remains genuinely severe.
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