What are the schools like in Central, LA?

Central is served primarily by Central Community School District. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.2:1.

What is the median household income in Central?

The median household income in Central, LA is $82,714 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.2%.

What is the weather like in Central, LA?

Central has an average high temperature of 62.3°F in January and 91.9°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 66.0 inches.

Central, LA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Central, LA affordable or expensive?

Central's cost of living index is 91, where 100 represents the national average. This means Central is 9% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $265,600 and the median rent is $1,340 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Central, LA?

Central has a violent crime rate of 175.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1420.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Central, LA a Good Place to Live?

Central is a small city of 29,518 in Louisiana, with a median household income of $82,714 and a 2.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Central stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B+).

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Central is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Central city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.8

Central's overall cost of living index is 90.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Central costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.

Metric	Central, LA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$265,600	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,340	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	89.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$82,714	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Central's violent crime rate is 175.4 per 100,000 residents — 54% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

175.4 /100k

Property Crime

1420.7 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Central is served primarily by Central Community School District. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Central, LA	National Avg
School District	Central Community School District	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	31.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Central sees average highs of 62.3°F in January and 91.9°F in July, with 66.0 inches of annual precipitation .

Metric	Central, LA
Average High — January	62.3°F
Average High — July	91.9°F
Annual Precipitation	66.0"
Annual Snowfall	Trace / None

Demographics

Metric	Central, LA	National Avg
Population	29,518	—
Median Age	38.8	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	30.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	83.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	8.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.8%	18.9%
Asian	1.0%	6.3%
Under 18	25.6%	22.2%
65 and over	17.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Monticello, LA 5 mi Watson, LA 5 mi Brownfields, LA 5 mi Merrydale, LA 6 mi Denham Springs, LA 7 mi

ZIP Codes in Central

Central, LA is covered by 4 ZIP codes:

70739 70818 70714 70770

Central vs Other Cities

Central, LA vs Monticello, LA Central, LA vs Watson, LA Central, LA vs Brownfields, LA Central, LA vs Merrydale, LA Central, LA vs Denham Springs, LA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Central, LA affordable or expensive?

Central's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Central roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $265,600 and median rent is $1,340/month.

What is the crime rate in Central, LA?

Central's violent crime rate is 175.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1420.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Central?

Public schools in Central are operated by Central Community School District. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1. 31.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Central, LA a good place to live?

Central, LA has a population of 29,518, a median household income of $82,714, and an unemployment rate of 2.2%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Central?

Central averages 62.3°F in January and 91.9°F in July. Annual rainfall is 66.0 inches . Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Central?

Central, LA is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 70739, 70818, 70714, 70770.

What is the population of Central?

The population of Central, Louisiana is 29,518 with a median age of 38.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Central?

Key numbers for living in Central: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $265,600, median household income $82,714, crime index 55 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Central side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.