Median Income
$103,130
household / year
Median Home Value
$297,000
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$1,169
gross / month
Cost of Living
91
national avg = 100

Is Shenandoah, LA a Good Place to Live?

Shenandoah is a small city of 18,561 in Louisiana, with a median household income of $103,130 and a 5.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is 9% below the national average.

Strengths: Shenandoah stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Shenandoah is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Shenandoah 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

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

Metric Shenandoah, LA National Avg
Median Home Value $297,000 $244,900
Median Monthly Rent $1,169 $1,163
Homeownership Rate 78.2% 65.9%
Median Household Income $103,130 $74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Shenandoah'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

Shenandoah is served primarily by East Baton Rouge Parish. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric Shenandoah, LA National Avg
School District East Baton Rouge Parish —
Elementary Schools 48 —
Middle Schools 12 —
High Schools 14 —
Student/Teacher Ratio 13.4:1 16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 50.0% 35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher 98.2% 91.1%

Weather & Climate

Shenandoah sees average highs of 60.7°F in January and 90.6°F in July, with 64.8 inches of annual precipitation and 0.2 inches of snow per year.

MetricShenandoah, LA
Average High — January60.7°F
Average High — July90.6°F
Annual Precipitation64.8"
Annual Snowfall0.2"

Demographics

MetricShenandoah, LANational Avg
Population18,561—
Median Age39.538.9
Unemployment Rate5.3%3.7%
Avg Commute Time26.3 min26 min
White (non-Hispanic)67.2%59.3%
Black or African American18.8%13.6%
Hispanic or Latino0.8%18.9%
Asian2.9%6.3%
Under 1824.8%22.2%
65 and over18.2%16.8%

Nearby Cities

ZIP Codes in Shenandoah

Shenandoah, LA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

Shenandoah vs Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

Shenandoah's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average. That makes Shenandoah roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $297,000 and median rent is $1,169/month.
Shenandoah'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.
Public schools in Shenandoah are operated by East Baton Rouge Parish. The district has 48 elementary, 12 middle, and 14 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. 50.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Shenandoah, LA has a population of 18,561, a median household income of $103,130, and an unemployment rate of 5.3%. 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.
Shenandoah averages 60.7°F in January and 90.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 64.8 inches with about 0.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Shenandoah, LA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 70817.
The population of Shenandoah, Louisiana is 18,561 with a median age of 39.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Shenandoah: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $297,000, median household income $103,130, crime index 55 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Shenandoah side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.