Very AffordableNear National AverageEast Carroll Parish
Louisiana State Cotton Museum in Lake Providence, LA IMG 7379 · Billy Hathorn / CC BY-SA 3.0African American's tenant's home beside the Mississippi River levee. Near Lake Providence, Louisiana, June 1940 · Marion Post Wolcott / Public domainLake Providence, LA, City Hall IMG 7406 · Billy Hathorn / CC BY-SA 3.0Lake Providence Post Office · Ktkvtsh / CC BY 4.0
Lake Providence is a small town of 3,542 in Louisiana, with a median household income of $25,614
and a 13.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 82 (US average = 100), which is
18% below the national average.
Strengths:
Lake Providence stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lake Providence is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Lake Providence 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: 82.0
Lake Providence's overall cost of living index is 82.0,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Lake Providence costs roughly 18% less than the average American city.
Metric
Lake Providence, LA
National Avg
Median Home Value
$57,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$650
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
48.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$25,614
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Lake Providence's violent crime rate is 655.9 per 100,000 residents
— 73% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
655.9 /100k
Property Crime
408.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Lake Providence is served primarily by East Carroll Parish.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Lake Providence, LA
National Avg
School District
East Carroll Parish
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
76.5%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Lake Providence sees average highs of 53.7°F in January
and 91.2°F in July,
with 58.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 0.5 inches of snow per year.
Lake Providence's cost of living index is 82, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Lake Providence roughly 18% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $57,900 and median rent is $650/month.
Lake Providence's violent crime rate is 655.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 408.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Lake Providence are operated by East Carroll Parish.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.0:1. 17.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Lake Providence, LA has a population of 3,542, a median household income of $25,614, and an unemployment rate of 13.6%.
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.
Lake Providence averages 53.7°F in January and 91.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 58.8 inches
with about 0.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Lake Providence, LA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 71254.
The population of Lake Providence, Louisiana is 3,542 with a median age of 28.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lake Providence: cost of living index 82 (100 = US average), median home $57,900, median household income $25,614, crime index 111 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lake Providence side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
