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Central vs Broussard

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

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

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

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

Left end = #1 in Louisiana. Showing the lists where the towns are furthest apart. All of Central’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.

Central$1,670/mo
Typical home $289K (Census) · tax rate 0.65% · or rent about $1,309/mo · Housing →
Broussard$1,600/mo
Typical home $282K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.51% · or rent about $1,010/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
CentralBroussard
Snow a year0″0″
January low—42°F
July high—91°F
Growing season (days)—280d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)90th86th
Outdoors & history
CentralBroussard
Trails7 mi3 mi
Conserved land2.5%1.7%
Settled20051884
National Register places—10
Archive photos2—
Famous people born here2—
Community
CentralBroussard
Library hours a week66 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.

CentralLABroussardLA
Central ↔ Broussard62 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.

CentralBroussard
People
Population 29,783Highest 14,322Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +10.1%Lowest LA: +2.7% +63.7%Highest LA: +2.7%
Median age 40.4±2Highest 6% above LA 35.1±3.5Lowest 8% below LA
Central and Broussard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 25.9%±2.8Lowest LA: 23.5% 28.4%±5.6Highest 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+ 18.4%±2.4Highest LA: 16.7% 9.7%±2.2Lowest LA: 16.7%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 35.3%Lowest LA: 27% 36.1%Highest LA: 27%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 5.6%±1.4Lowest LA: 5.8% 7.9%±3Highest 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 $89,554±$13kLowest 47% above LA $116,179±$16kHighest 91% 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 $288,700±$18kLowest 33% above LA $310,200±$20kHighest 43% 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 $1,309±$101Highest 23% above LA $1,010±$127Lowest 5% below LA
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,868Highest 58% above LA $1,574Lowest 33% above LA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 65.2%±4Highest LA: 54.8% 49.4%±20.4Lowest 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 5.4%Lowest LA: 18.9% 13.4%Highest LA: 18.9%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 88.8%Highest LA: 67.4% 83.3%Lowest LA: 67.4%
Typical home builtmedian year 1990Lowest 7 yrs newer than LA 2006Highest 23 yrs newer than LA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 29 minHighest 13% above LA 20 minLowest 23% below LA
Work from home 10.1%±2.7Highest LA: 8.1% 5%±2.3Lowest LA: 8.1%
Work in townworking residents 10.7%Lowest 11.9%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 10.8 miHighest 6.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.46Lowest 2.14Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Baton Rouge (36%)Lafayette (39%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in BroussardFew work in Central
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 2.5%Highest 1.7%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 6.6 miHighest 2.5 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.1 mi 0.1 mi
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Lowest 7Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 12.9Lowest 43.6Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #17 of 153 in LA#20 of 153 in LA
School district Central Community School DistrictLafayette Parish
High school in town Central High SchoolNone in town
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.

Central neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Central’s Town Square.

Broussard neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Broussard’s Town Square.

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Bordering Central

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Denham Springs9,323 people · $188K homes
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Brownfields4,261 people · $207K homes
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Monticello3,999 people · $176K homes
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Zachary19,952 people · $259K homes

Towns like Central

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Youngsville17,427 people · $288K homes
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Slidell28,561 people · $218K homes
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Sulphur20,775 people · $183K homes
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Mandeville12,946 people · $376K 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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