History Buffs Will
Appreciate Natchitoches, Louisiana's Rich Heritage, Southern
Romance and Affordable Living
Cost of Living: Below the National
Average
Natchitoches (NACK-uh-tush), Louisiana was founded
in 1714 and is the oldest, permanent settlement within the 1803
Louisiana Purchase. Located on the banks of Cane River Lake,
this peaceful, southern town (population 18,500) was originally
settled by the French as a trading post and as a defense against
Spanish incursion into the area. Over the years, large
cotton plantations blossomed around town, and Southern aristocrats
built lavish homes along the River. Today, many of
these mansions are listed on the National Register of Historic
Places and comprise Natchitoches' 33-block Historic District.
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Affordable housing and a cost-of-living
roughly 15% below the national average are reasons that
residents enjoy Natchitoches. The median home
price is $100,000 for a 1,500 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2
bath home. The median price for a 2 bedroom
condominium is $85,000. Expect, though, to pay
a price in the low to mid-$100,000s for a nice, 1,600
square foot, 2-3 bedroom home. Cottages (900 square
feet) in need of some repair can be found for $50,000, and
small homes in good shape can be had for $75,000 -
$90,000. At the other end of the scale, $310,000
will fetch a truly stunning, 3,600 square foot, two-story,
5 bedroom, 3 bath, Georgian/Tutor-style, brick home with
marble floors, cathedral ceilings, a curved staircase and
2.5 acres. The area around Natchitoches in
north-central Louisiana is dotted with lakes, and lovely,
2-3 bedroom, 2,300 square foot, lake homes with acreage
can easily be found in the low to mid-$200,000 range. |
The town has a number of newer subdivisions where
very nice, brick, 3-4 bedroom homes start in the high $100,000s
and low $200,000s. These include St. Clair Estates and Jean
Clair Estates. New homes in Oak Point Estates are more
expensive, in the low to mid-$300,000 price range. Some
wonderfully restored, turn-of-the-20th-century, 2-3 bedroom homes
are also for sale in the Historic District, starting at around
$250,000.
Natchitoches' average apartment costs $485 per
month to rent, but most one bedroom apartments we found were in
the $525 per month range (two bedrooms were running $570-$650 per
month). Natchitoches also has several mobile home
parks, including Carter's Mobile Home Park
(318-352-1410), Bayou Vista Mobile Home Park (318-352-0201) and
B&D Country Estates (318-356-9007).
The tax rate in Natchitoches Parish (the Parish in
which Natchitoches is located) is $107 per $1,000 of assessed
value, and there is a $75,000 homestead exemption. In
the City of Natchitoches, the tax rate is $17 per $1,000 of
assessed value, with the land and residential improvements
assessed at 10 percent of fair market value, with no homestead
exemption. On a $100,000 home, residents pay parish
taxes on $2,500 and city taxes on $10,000. Taxes due the
parish would be $268, and taxes due the city would be $170, for a
total bill of $438.
Natchitoches,
Louisiana, Continued....
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