Relocating to Lafayette area (Baton Rouge, Broussard: house, safe area, construction)

[pep1048]

My husband was offered a position in Louisiana. It will entail traveling in the southern portions of Louisiana. We are looking at the Lafayette area. We would appreciate any input on a safe area to look for a home. We are coming from the Phoenix area which will be quite a shock I'm sure. Before he accepts the position can you also give me some good reasons to move to this area and Louisiana. Thanks

[lululed]

Originally Posted by pep1048

My husband was offered a position in Louisiana. It will entail traveling in the southern portions of Louisiana. We are looking at the Lafayette area. We would appreciate any input on a safe area to look for a home. We are coming from the Phoenix area which will be quite a shock I'm sure. Before he accepts the position can you also give me some good reasons to move to this area and Louisiana. Thanks

I live outside of Lafayette in Broussard, LA. Lafayette has around 110 K people. It is actually pretty safe. If I had to name an area to stay away from it would be the Northside of Lafayette. It is not HORRIBLE but it is definitely the least safe place in the city and the most run down.
Lafayette is a wonderful city. It is full of culture (cajun) which gives you fantastic food, a wonderful Mardi Gras, and I challenge you to find nicer people in this size of a town. It is home to the state's second largest university, University of Louisiana at Lafayette- home of the Rajun Cajuns! (how cute is that?!). We are an hour from Baton Rouge (home of the LSU TIGERS- I would NOT live there..I am speaking from experience. BR has the great university but that is about it. The public school system there is terrible and it is in general, an eyesore. No culture to speak of) Word to the wise..if you are coming here from Arizona or wherever..we will love you but you must love the LSU TIGERS..or at least pretend to. We are the most fierce of the fans...
If you are looking for small town with great school and ultimate safety..try St. Francisville, LA. It is a historic community with rolling hills (unique to the state).
Public schools in Lafayette are pretty good. There are plenty of great private schools to choose from as well.
Reasons to move to LA? I don't know the area you are coming from. I can only tell you about us. We are a fun-loving people who love to cook and eat. We are prideful and family and God oriented. There are exceptions to every rule of course. There may be someone who disagree about BR. I can tell you I have lived in both BR and Lafayette. I attended high school in BR. I attended college in both. Graduate school in Lafayette. I choose to raise my kids in Lafayette. A negative? Due to the hurricanes, the cost of housing has gone up here. It is also hard to find a great house - LOTS of construction going on. But, it may be comparable or less than where you are now. Oh, yeah, the roads are terrible everywhere here.
Good luck to you!