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Broussard vs Central

62 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+53.6 pts in Broussard) and jobs per worker (4.7× in Broussard).

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Broussard, LAHomes around $282KLouisiana · 14,322 people
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Central, LAKnown for its schoolsLouisiana · 29,783 people
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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.

BroussardHomes around $282K
Housing$282K typical home30% above the LA typical home Schools#20 for schools in LAof 153 towns HealthHealthier than 63%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates All about Broussard →
CentralKnown for its schools
Schools#17 for schools in LAof 153 towns HealthHealthier than 71%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Outdoors#26 most conserved land in LA6.6 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves All about Central →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

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

Growth since 2010+53.6 pts
Broussard has grown faster since 2010
Broussard +63.7%Central +10.1%
Jobs per worker4.7×
Broussard is more of a job hub
Broussard 2.14Central 0.46
Street grid3.4×
Broussard has the more walkable street grid
Broussard 43.6Central 12.9
Trails2.6×
Central has more miles of trail
Central 6.6 miBroussard 2.5 mi
Rent+30%
Rent runs higher in Central
Central $1,309Broussard $1,010
Average commute9 min
Broussard has the shorter commute
Central 29 minBroussard 20 min
★ What stands out · Report cards

Central places higher on 11 of 21 LA lists

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.

Safety
CBroussardSafer than 33% of U.S. towns –CentralNot graded
Schools
A−BroussardBetter than 81% of districts in the state ACentralBetter than 93% of districts in the state
Health
BBroussardHealthier than 63% of U.S. towns B+CentralHealthier than 71% of U.S. towns
9Broussard
11Central

Lists won, of 21 where both are ranked. Ties go to nobody.

Shortest commuteGetting around · 163 towns #28#130 Closest to a top hospitalHealth · 163 towns #138#44 Most remote workersWork · 158 towns #91#26 Most walkableOutdoors · 163 towns #103#160 Highest graduation rateSchools · 161 towns #102#47 Cheapest rentCost of living · 161 towns #87#135 Most new homesHousing · 91 towns #7#22 Fastest growingGrowth · 163 towns #4#30

Left end = #1 in Louisiana. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Broussard’s rankings →

Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

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.

Broussard$1,600/mo
Typical home $282K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.51% · or rent about $1,010/mo · Housing →
Central$1,670/mo
Typical home $289K (Census) · tax rate 0.65% · or rent about $1,309/mo · Housing →

The difference: $70 a month, about $900 a year, between Central and Broussard.

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.

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
BroussardCentral
Snow a year0″0″
January low42°F—
July high91°F—
Growing season (days)280d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)86th90th
Outdoors & history
BroussardCentral
Trails3 mi7 mi
Conserved land1.7%2.5%
Settled18842005
National Register places10—
Archive photos—2
Famous people born here—2
Community
BroussardCentral
Library hours a week—66 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

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

62 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

BroussardLACentralLA
Broussard ↔ Central62 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.

BroussardCentral
People
Population 14,322Lowest 29,783Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +63.7%Highest LA: +2.7% +10.1%Lowest LA: +2.7%
Median age 35.1±3.5Lowest 8% below LA 40.4±2Highest 6% above LA
Central and Broussard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 28.4%±5.6Highest LA: 23.5% 25.9%±2.8Lowest LA: 23.5%
Broussard and Central are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 9.7%±2.2Lowest LA: 16.7% 18.4%±2.4Highest LA: 16.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 36.1%Highest LA: 27% 35.3%Lowest LA: 27%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 7.9%±3Highest LA: 5.8% 5.6%±1.4Lowest LA: 5.8%
Broussard and Central are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $116,179±$16kHighest 91% above LA $89,554±$13kLowest 47% above LA
Broussard and Central are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $310,200±$20kHighest 43% above LA $288,700±$18kLowest 33% above LA
Broussard and Central are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $1,010±$127Lowest 5% below LA $1,309±$101Highest 23% above LA
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,574Lowest 33% above LA $1,868Highest 58% above LA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 49.4%±20.4Lowest LA: 54.8% 65.2%±4Highest LA: 54.8%
Central and Broussard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 13.4%Highest LA: 18.9% 5.4%Lowest LA: 18.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 83.3%Lowest LA: 67.4% 88.8%Highest LA: 67.4%
Typical home builtmedian year 2006Highest 23 yrs newer than LA 1990Lowest 7 yrs newer than LA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 20 minLowest 23% below LA 29 minHighest 13% above LA
Work from home 5%±2.3Lowest LA: 8.1% 10.1%±2.7Highest LA: 8.1%
Work in townworking residents 11.9%Highest 10.7%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 6.8 miLowest 10.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 2.14Highest 0.46Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Lafayette (39%)Baton Rouge (36%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in CentralFew work in Broussard
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 1.7%Lowest 2.5%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 2.5 miLowest 6.6 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 mi 0.1 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 7Highest 3Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 43.6Highest 12.9Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #20 of 153 in LA#17 of 153 in LA
School district Lafayette ParishCentral Community School District
High school in town None in townCentral High School
Students per teacherat that high school — 15.1
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.

Broussard neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Broussard’s Town Square.

Central neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Central’s Town Square.

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Bordering Broussard

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Lafayette121,715 people · $257K homes
Y
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Youngsville17,427 people · $288K homes
C
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Cade1,710 people · $205K homes

Towns like Broussard

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Zachary19,952 people · $259K homes
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Addis7,252 people · $247K homes
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Covington11,658 people · $295K homes
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Denham Springs9,323 people · $188K 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.

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