Central is a city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, third largest city in East Baton Rouge Parish, and part of the Baton Rouge metropolitan statistical area. Central had a 2020 census population of 29,565.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Central ranks

All →

#1Lowest obesity in LA #3Fewest uninsured in LA #4Fewest smokers in LA All LA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP codeSign in to add

Area codeSign in to add

Living in Central

Housing in Central

$312K Median sale price · Redfin, May 2026

The median sale price was $312,000 in May 2026.

A balanced market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market72

Sale-to-list98.3%

Sold in May25

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Central

—

Not graded

A grade needs all of the FBI's latest years (2023–2025). Central's police department reported only 2025, so we don't grade it yet. The figures below are still real.

Violent crime per 1,000

Central 0.1

Louisiana 4.7

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Central 0.6

Louisiana 18.6

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Health in Central

B⁺

Health Grade B+

Healthier than 70% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates.

Compared with Louisiana

21better than LA·1worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 10 are too close to call.

Conditions 7▲ 1▼ 4 close Habits 2▲ 2 close Care 4▲ 3 close Mind 4▲ 1 close Everyday needs 4▲ 0 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

11.8%Fewer adults facing food insecurityLA 22.5% · better 7%Fewer adults facing a utility shut-offLA 12.4% · better 9.4%More adults who have had cancerLA 7.5% · worse

Care nearby

Ochsner Medical Center - Baton RougeBaton Rouge · 8.3 mi · ER

Ohcc - 30789 Range AvenueDenham Springs · 5.8 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Central · CMS · HRSAHealth in Central →

Natural hazards in Central

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 90% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🌪️ Tornadoes🌀 Hurricanes

1,869Does Central flood?paid flood claims since 1995 6Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Central MapCentral vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Central →

Schools in Central

All Central schools →

School Grade A

The public schools Central’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 93% of Louisiana’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

#17Best public schoolsof 153 in LA

DistrictCentral Community School DistrictSchools7

Central Intermediate School AElementary · Grades 3–5 · 1,039 students Tanglewood Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades 1–2 · 622 students Bellingrath Hills Elementary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–K · 378 students St. Alphonsus Liguori SchoolElementary · Grades PK–8 · 431 students Central Middle School A-Middle · Grades 6–8 · 1,012 students Central High School A-High · Grades 9–12 · 1,529 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within LA. Ratings are from neighbors.