what is the best town in Louisiana to live in and why? (Shreveport: neighborhood, schools)

[stacieberry]

I thank you for you answers! I just wanna find a place where my son can get a good education. He has some trouble in school and I am not getting help from the school. I told my hubby we WILL move before school starts this next year.

[becoming]

Shongaloo, Louisiana (in extreme north Webster parish, 2 miles from Arkansas) has a WONDERFUL, safe, tiny, perfect public school, but it's hard to find housing here.

[BRMan]

Originally Posted by ceejamon

SBC, indeed, unless you're into really small towns. NO has hurricanes. BR is blah, plus hurricanes. Ruston is full of cows and college students. Monroe smells funny (Seriously, every time I drive through it stinks. What gives?)

As much as I've knocked Shreveport, it's honestly the best city to live in LA. That's why I left LA.

Baton Rouge is what you make of it. It has an eclectic mixture of universities, government, and the petrochemical industry. And is near enough to New Orleans, Cajun Country, and North Louisiana to have influences from each of those demographics. Not to mention we have a Asian/Middle Eastern population due to the universities and petrochemical plants.

As to the hurricanes, yes, there is the risk of losing power and having tree limbs/trees in your house, but that's applicable to most of Louisiana as well. And Gustav was one of the worst storms (for BR) in recorded history. And we've recovered pretty well.

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by MetroBTR

First of all, Shreveport area is one of the WORST cities to live in Louisiana, unless you live in South Highlands or across the river in Bossier City.

Second, Lafayette is the best place that can really be called a "city". Followed by Baton Rouge.

As far as smaller communities, Mandeville and Destrehan are nice. I also like Carencro, Gonzales, and Houma.

Shreveport has its problems but I certainly wouldn't agree here. When I lived in Shreveport, I loved living in the Spring Lake area despite its close proximity to Cedar Grove.

Shreveport still has many desirable neighborhoods, such as South Highlands (which you mentioned), Broadmoor, some parts of old Highland, Island Park, Twelve Oaks, the University area all around LSUS (including The Haven), Provenance, Ellerbe Road, Southern Trace, Pierremont Hills, and much of the Cross Lake area.

And while Bossier City began as basically a suburb to Shreveport, it has developed its own identity and is a full-fledged city with its own downtown, casinos, nightclubs, sports teams, malls, and even bordering towns that have basically become suburbs to Bossier City.

I have no comment on Lafayette whatsoever, because I have spent a very small amount of time there. People tout Lafayette's culture as one of its biggest draws, but as someone who is not at all impressed by cajun culture, that has no positive effect on my thoughts of the city.

[redbean]

Originally Posted by stacieberry

I thank you for you answers! I just wanna find a place where my son can get a good education. He has some trouble in school and I am not getting help from the school. I told my hubby we WILL move before school starts this next year.

Mandeville is known to have the top-ranked public schools in the state. And personally I love the area. You get the small-town feel but can drive to New Orleans in 30 minutes.

I would start researching the best schools (public or private) and go from there. I've lived in Shreveport, it was OK... I think the schools in Benton are probably good, but I have no idea about those in Shreveport. Good luck with your search.

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by redbean

Mandeville is known to have the top-ranked public schools in the state. And personally I love the area. You get the small-town feel but can drive to New Orleans in 30 minutes.

I would start researching the best schools (public or private) and go from there. I've lived in Shreveport, it was OK... I think the schools in Benton are probably good, but I have no idea about those in Shreveport. Good luck with your search.

Only the magnet schools in Shreveport are good, and private schools anywhere are a joke. But Bossier Parish schools in general are good, with Benton being on par with the rest of the parish.

[MetroBTR]

Originally Posted by SBCmetroguy

Shreveport has its problems but I certainly wouldn't agree here. When I lived in Shreveport, I loved living in the Spring Lake area despite its close proximity to Cedar Grove.

Shreveport still has many desirable neighborhoods, such as South Highlands (which you mentioned), Broadmoor, some parts of old Highland, Island Park, Twelve Oaks, the University area all around LSUS (including The Haven), Provenance, Ellerbe Road, Southern Trace, Pierremont Hills, and much of the Cross Lake area.

And while Bossier City began as basically a suburb to Shreveport, it has developed its own identity and is a full-fledged city with its own downtown, casinos, nightclubs, sports teams, malls, and even bordering towns that have basically become suburbs to Bossier City.

I have no comment on Lafayette whatsoever, because I have spent a very small amount of time there. People tout Lafayette's culture as one of its biggest draws, but as someone who is not at all impressed by cajun culture, that has no positive effect on my thoughts of the city.

Well, to each his own I guess. I mentioned the only things I've been impressed with in the area. And from what I've experienced, IMO it is not on par with Lafayette and BR. Bossier City is great though, I really like the riverfront area.

[SBCmetroguy]

Originally Posted by MetroBTR

Well, to each his own I guess. I mentioned the only things I've been impressed with in the area. And from what I've experienced, IMO it is not on par with Lafayette and BR. Bossier City is great though, I really like the riverfront area.

Well you've been around here long enough to know that I'm biased, so naturally I see the most value in my own area.

And I was trying to come across as non-argumentative, I hope I was successful in setting the right tone. I definitely didn't want to knock any region or say mine is the best, I just wanted to point out that there is more to Shreveport than just South Highlands. The city has a lot of charm, but unfortunately the poverty level in Shreveport is extremely high and "bad" neighborhoods make up a very disproportionate amount of the city's landscape and that is what most people see. It's really shameful, to be honest. This is why I am partial to Bossier City over Shreveport, but I am partial to my region over the rest of the state.

As I mentioned, Cajun culture doesn't appeal to me like it does some people, and I think that's why I prefer north Louisiana to south Louisiana. But for the record let me state that I am not partial to the southern United States at all, I am only here because I was born and raised here and haven't found the right opportunity to leave yet.

[stacieberry]

I hope maybe I can use some of this information to help make a decision. I just gotta get DH to go along with me!

[CajunHoney]

Lafayette,La. is a wonderful place to live. People are so friendly and has a very good university. Not too big to get lost in, but big enough to not feel smothered.