Western Baton Rouge Area (Port Allen, New Roads: crime, homes, school district)

[Northerngal]

Hi, my husband may be relocated from PA to the western Baton Rouge area. He really wants the job if an offer is made but I have my reservations as I have read a whole lot of negatives on this board about living in Louisiana. I really love the area we currently live in here in PA so the decision to move is very difficult for me.

I was wondering if anyone who lives just west of Baton Rouge can tell me what life is like there and what towns (rural or suburban) are considered to be more desireable. I will probably homeschool our small children so public education will not be much of an issue. I am curious about lifestyle and of course very concerned about the crime stats. Thanks in advance for any and all feedback you may have to offer.

[southland]

West Baton Rouge is not as densly populated as Baton Rouge. The west side of the river is more "Cajun" than "Redneck". The people are very nice. There is a lot of agriculture, shipping (port of BR), and industrial centers in West Baton Rouge. There is not as much infrastructure there, but it really doesn't matter because you would be so close to Baton Rouge.

There are a lot of industrial jobs on that side of the river. Port Allen is mostly folks who work in Downtown Baton Rouge or at one of the refineries. The Brusly school district just south of Port Allen is improving every year, and homes are relatively affordable. That area is all suburbia, though.

I don't go there often, but New Roads and St. Francisville are very beautiful towns not far from the major job centers in BR, though New Roads' public schools are a joke (good affordable private schools, though), but if you like watersports then False River is the place to be. Plaquimine (sp?) is also a pretty little town a short drive away from Baton Rouge.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by Northerngal

Hi, my husband may be relocated from PA to the western Baton Rouge area. He really wants the job if an offer is made but I have my reservations as I have read a whole lot of negatives on this board about living in Louisiana. I really love the area we currently live in here in PA so the decision to move is very difficult for me.

I was wondering if anyone who lives just west of Baton Rouge can tell me what life is like there and what towns (rural or suburban) are considered to be more desireable. I will probably homeschool our small children so public education will not be much of an issue. I am curious about lifestyle and of course very concerned about the crime stats. Thanks in advance for any and all feedback you may have to offer.

By "west" I assume you're talking about across the Miss. River in West Baton Rouge/Pointe Coupee/Iberville Parishes. These areas are poorer and have a lot of petrochemical plants, with sugarcane farms taking up the rest. However, West Baton Rouge Parish (Port Allen, Brusly, Addis) is kind of a "best kept secret", with great access to downtown BR, and a country atmosphere. Someday, those sugarcane farmers will sell their land off to subdivision developers. Lately, I've noticed (in W. Baton Rouge Parish) decent subdivisions popping up on LA 1 in Brusly/Addis just south of I-10. You may want to check there.