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Gonzales, LA

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Gonzales, LA

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Demographics

DiverseSimpson's Diversity Index: 61
Population12,748
Foreign Born3.6%
Population Density1,391people per mi²
Median Age41.2 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
GrowingSince 2010, this city's population has grown with relatively minor shifts in racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
A-
Great

A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

110/100

10% above national average

A-

The Real Cost of Living in Gonzales, Louisiana

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $22k$41k
Comfortable $41k$61k
Luxury $91k+$140k+
Elite (Top 5%) $107k+$165k+
Affordability Ratio

109%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean88%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
15
Positive
38
Poor
5
Negative
0

Groceries

1 within 10 miles

0.7mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

13.8mi

Airport

Louisiana Regional Airport

4.6mi

Post Office

USPS — Baton Rouge, LA

13.5mi

Critical Amenities

Golf2Nearest 8.1 mi
Camping20Nearest 19.9 mi
Marina5Nearest 5.3 mi
Winery0 
Ice Rink0Nearest 67.9 mi
Gun Range2Nearest 3.2 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
D
Soft

A below-average socioeconomic profile. Incomes, home values, and educational attainment trail the U.S., with higher poverty and unemployment.

Median HHI
$66k-0.2%
12% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$255k
61% below US avg
College Educated
26.5%
24% below US avg
WFH
5.6%
61% below US avg
Homeownership
68.7%
5% above US avg
Median Home
$213k
25% below US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
D+
Elevated

Higher crime rates than 68% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
36.9
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−34.6%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−11.6%
Homicide
0.07 / 1k Residents15% above state avg
Robbery
0.70 / 1k Residents231% above state avg
Aggravated Assault
4.07 / 1k Residents35% above state avg

Property Crime

5yr−57.5%
Burglary
2.81 / 1k Residents20% above state avg
Larceny-Theft
26.44 / 1k Residents151% above state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
2.53 / 1k Residents99% above state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: D+17Solidly Liberal

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Gonzales, Louisiana
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%70%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B+
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
B-
Fair9.1% of income
Property Rights
C-
FairIJ Grade C-
Firearm Rights
B
GoodFPC Grade B
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Net exporter (280% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
F
ProhibitedIllegal
Gambling Laws
A
Broadly OpenCasinos · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A-
Broadly LegalMedical + Decrim.

Homesteading

Hardiness Zone9A~23°F min
Growing Season297 days357 frost-free
Annual Rainfall70.5"
Elevation13 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
C+
Exposed

Meaningful friction. Expect exposure to either population pressure, blast zones, or natural disaster risk. Consider buying a retreat property.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A
Good268 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
C-
Weak1,391/sq mi
Fallout Danger
B
Fair10 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
F
PoorHurricane
Border / Coast
B
Fairborder 493 mi · coast 53 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$120.1M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CityNew Orleans384k people are 55 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital22 miBaton Rouge, LA
Nearest Prison10 mi3 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T23:16:06.000Z

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