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Bernice vs Duson

181 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (+83% in Bernice) and jobs per worker (2× in Duson).

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Bernice, LAOne of the healthiest townsLouisiana · 1,355 people

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Duson, LAOne of the healthiest townsLouisiana · 1,282 people

Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

BerniceOne of the healthiest towns

Health96% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Housing$110K typical home49% below the LA typical home

HistorySettled in 18995 places on the National Register All about Bernice →

DusonOne of the healthiest towns

Health92% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates SchoolsBetter than 81%of LA districts All about Duson →

The biggest differences

Where they differ most

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Property tax bill+83%

Tax bills are bigger in Bernice

Bernice $393Duson $215

Jobs per worker2×

Duson is more of a job hub

Duson 0.73Bernice 0.36

Street grid+43%

Bernice has the more walkable street grid

Bernice 42.1Duson 29.4

Average commute4 min

Bernice has the shorter commute

Duson 25 minBernice 21 min

★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $590 more a month in Duson

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Down paymentRate%

Bernice$620/mo

Typical home $110K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.49% · or rent about $695/mo · Housing →

Duson$1,210/mo

Typical home $217K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.40% · or rent about $743/mo · Housing →

The difference: $590 a month, about $7,100 a year, between Duson and Bernice.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Louisiana ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Schools

–BerniceNot graded A−DusonBetter than 81% of districts in the state

Health

D−BerniceHealthier than 4% of U.S. towns DDusonHealthier than 8% of U.S. towns

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons

BerniceDuson

Snow a year1″0″

January low—41°F

July high—91°F

Growing season (days)—279d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)46th 87th

Outdoors & history

BerniceDuson

Trails1 mi —

Conserved land0%—

Settled1899 1909

National Register places5 —

Archive photos5 7

Famous people born here10 1

Community

BerniceDuson

Library hours a week—35 hrs

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

181 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

BerniceLA DusonLA

Bernice ↔ Duson181 miles apart

Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Only big differences vs Louisiana average

BerniceDuson

People

Population 1,355Highest 1,282Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -19.7%Highest LA: +2.7% -22.7%Lowest LA: +2.7%

Median age 41.8±14.4Lowest 10% above LA 42±11.4Highest 11% above LA

Duson and Bernice are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 21%±9.1Lowest LA: 23.5% 26.7%±7Highest LA: 23.5%

Duson and Bernice are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 17.1%±5.5Highest LA: 16.7% 13.7%±4.6Lowest LA: 16.7%

Bernice and Duson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 7.8%Lowest LA: 27% 11.1%Highest LA: 27%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 4.7%±5.4Highest LA: 5.8% 1.9%±1.5Lowest LA: 5.8%

Bernice and Duson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $26,399±$15kHighest 57% below LA $25,054±$7kLowest 59% below LA

Bernice and Duson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $80,300±$20kHighest 63% below LA $54,300±$15kLowest 75% below LA

Bernice and Duson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $695±$168Lowest 35% below LA $743±$331Highest 30% below LA

Duson and Bernice are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $393Highest 67% below LA $215Lowest 82% below LA

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 58.9%±22.5Highest LA: 54.8% 54.3%±54.3Lowest LA: 54.8%

Bernice and Duson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Below poverty line 28.1%Lowest LA: 18.9% 39.3%Highest LA: 18.9%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 68.4%Highest LA: 67.4% 62.4%Lowest LA: 67.4%

Typical home builtmedian year 1977Lowest 6 yrs older than LA 1988Highest 5 yrs newer than LA

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 21 minLowest 17% below LA 25 minHighest about the LA average

Work from home 1.1%±1.2Lowest LA: 8.1% 3.8%±4.1Highest LA: 8.1%

Duson and Bernice are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Work in townworking residents 4.7%Highest 0.4%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 26.8 miHighest 10.8 miLowest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.36Lowest 0.73Highest

Top workplaceoutside town Farmerville (11%)Lafayette (43%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in DusonFew work in Bernice

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 0% 0%

Trailsmapped miles 0.6 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miHighest 0.0 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Highest 0Lowest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 42.1Highest 29.4Lowest

Schools

School district —Lafayette Parish

High school in town —None in town

Louisiana average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024

Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Bernice neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Bernice’s Town Square.

Duson neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Duson’s Town Square.

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Towns like Bernice

Ringgold1,405 people · $93K homes

Pine Prairie934 people

Olla1,179 people · $119K homes

Krotz Springs831 people · $63K homes

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.