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Safest Cities in Louisiana (2026 Rankings)

Updated October 2026 · Based on 2024 FBI UCR data

Covington is the safest city in Louisiana with a crime rate of 20.3 per 1,000 residents, earning a B- safety grade. Opelousas (20.7/1K) and Pineville (21.2/1K) round out the top three. Rankings based on 33 cities with 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Avg Crime Rate
24.4per 1K
Below National Avg
6of 33 cities
Above National Avg
27of 33 cities

All 33 Cities Ranked by Safety

#CityGradeCrime/1K
1Covington
B-
20.3
2Opelousas
B-
20.7
3Pineville
B-
21.2
4Gretna
B-
21.4
5Gonzales
B-
21.4
6Zachary
B-
21.8
7Central
B-
22
8Youngsville
B-
22.2
9Carencro
B-
22.3
10Mandeville
B-
22.9
11Lake Charles
C+
23.1
12Slidell
C+
23.4
13Baker
C+
23.6
14Crowley
C+
23.7
15Hammond
C+
24
16West Monroe
C+
24
17Broussard
C+
24.1
18Natchitoches
C+
24.3
19Alexandria
C+
24.4
20Minden
C+
24.7
21Ruston
C+
24.8
22Bogalusa
C+
24.9
23Shreveport
C+
25.2
24New Iberia
C+
25.3
25Sulphur
C+
25.4
26Morgan City
C+
25.7
27Thibodaux
C+
25.8
28Kenner
C+
25.9
29Abbeville
C+
25.9
30St. George
C+
26.1
31Monroe
C
27.3
32Bossier City
C
27.4
33New Orleans
D-
39.5

Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Most Dangerous Cities in Louisiana

The highest crime rates among tracked cities in Louisiana. These cities have the most crime per capita based on FBI data.

1
D-
New Orleans39.5/1K · High Risk · Violent: 750/100K
2
C
Bossier City27.4/1K · Elevated · Violent: 390/100K
3
C
Monroe27.3/1K · Elevated · Violent: 472/100K
4
C+
St. George26.1/1K · Moderate · Violent: 495/100K
5
C+
Abbeville25.9/1K · Moderate · Violent: 447/100K

Frequently Asked Questions About Safety in Louisiana

What is the safest city in Louisiana?
As of 2026, Covington is the safest city in Louisiana with a crime rate of 20.3 per 1,000 residents and a B- safety grade. It ranks above 57% of all US cities.
What are the top 10 safest cities in Louisiana?
Based on 2026 FBI Uniform Crime Report data, the top 10 safest cities in Louisiana based on crime rate are: Covington, Opelousas, Pineville, Gretna, Gonzales, Zachary, Central, Youngsville, Carencro, Mandeville.
What is the most dangerous city in Louisiana?
New Orleans has the highest crime rate in Louisiana at 39.5 per 1,000 residents, earning a D- safety grade.
What is the average crime rate in Louisiana?
The average crime rate across 33 tracked cities in Louisiana is 24.4 per 1,000 residents. The average violent crime rate is 413 per 100K and property crime averages 2026 per 100K.
Is Louisiana safe to live in?
Louisiana has a higher-than-average violent crime rate at 413 per 100K (national: 363.8). However, safety varies widely by city. Covington earns a B- while New Orleans gets a D-. 6 of 33 cities have crime rates at or below the national average.
How many cities are ranked in Louisiana?
33 cities in Louisiana are ranked using FBI Uniform Crime Report data. 6 have crime rates at or below the national average.
See 2027 rankings for Louisiana →View all Louisiana city safety gradesSafety index for all 50 states

2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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