Market rankings · Louisiana
Child care centers and preschools in Louisiana
Every metro area, small-town market and county in Louisiana, ranked by the Groundwork market score for child care centers and preschools, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 1,018
- 63 chain locations (6%)
- Official establishments
- 1,040
- +7.1% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $742.4M
- On child care and other personal services
- Listings per 10k households
- 5.6
- 3% below the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $729K
- 27% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #44 of 51
- Market score 30 · Lower middle
A site report maps the child care centers and preschools on map listings around any address in Louisiana by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Louisiana has 1,018 child care centers and preschools on map listings as of September 2026. Chain locations make up 6% of them, against 12% across the U.S. That is 5.6 per 10,000 households, 3% below the U.S. rate of 5.8.
Households in Louisiana spend about $742.4M a year on child care and other personal services, or $411 per household, 29% below the U.S. average. That is about $729K of household spending for each center on map listings, 27% below the U.S. figure of $1M.
Official counts show 1,040 businesses with payroll classed as child care services in Louisiana in 2023, up 7.1% from 2019. That is one for every 1,735 households, against one for every 1,573 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 5.7% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 33 SBA-backed loans worth $19.8M have gone to businesses classed as child care services in Louisiana.
Among the 50 states and DC, Louisiana ranks #44 for child care centers and preschools, with a Groundwork market score of 30 (lower middle). Of the 10 scored metro areas in or partly in Louisiana, the Slidell-Mandeville-Covington metro area scores highest (57). Of the 8 scored small-town markets in or partly in Louisiana, the Natchitoches area scores highest (50).
Every market in Louisiana for child care centers and preschools
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Louisiana, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | 57 | 59 | 5.6 | $913K | +5.3% | #148 of 387 |
| 2Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | 44 | 35 | 4.4 | $903K | −3.5% | #238 of 387 |
| 3Lake Charles, LA | 37 | 49 | 5.3 | $808K | −3.8% | #282 of 387 |
| 4New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 34 | 229 | 5.7 | $756K | −3.4% | #302 of 387 |
| 5Lafayette, LA | 34 | 105 | 6.4 | $639K | +3.8% | #303 of 387 |
| 6Baton Rouge, LA | 32 | 220 | 6.6 | $695K | +2.1% | #319 of 387 |
| 7Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 26 | 71 | 4.5 | $842K | −2.3% | #350 of 387 |
| 8Hammond, LA | 25 | 38 | 7.3 | $513K | +5.8% | #360 of 387 |
| 9Monroe, LA | 22 | 43 | 4.9 | $747K | −1.9% | #366 of 387 |
| 10Alexandria, LA | 18 | 33 | 5.9 | $651K | −2.5% | #372 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Natchitoches, LA | 50 | 5 | 3.4 | $1M | −3.5% | #229 of 454 |
| 2New Iberia, LA | 48 | 8 | 3.0 | $1.2M | −4.6% | #240 of 454 |
| 3Morgan City, LA | 34 | 11 | 6.0 | $561K | −5.3% | #358 of 454 |
| 4Ruston, LA | 32 | 12 | 6.5 | $541K | +0.1% | #369 of 454 |
| 5Bogalusa, LA | 26 | 8 | 4.5 | $688K | −0.9% | #400 of 454 |
| 6Opelousas, LA | 24 | 23 | 7.1 | $434K | −1.9% | #409 of 454 |
| Natchez, MS-LA | 23 | 11 | 5.3 | $596K | −0.9% | #411 of 454 |
| 7Minden, LA | 19 | 14 | 9.8 | $293K | −5.2% | #426 of 454 |
| DeRidder, LA | Not scored | 3 | 2.2 | $1.8M | +0.2% |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1St. Tammany Parish, LA | 62 | 59 | 5.6 | $913K | +5.3% | #489 of 1,611 |
| 2Livingston Parish, LA | 56 | 29 | 5.4 | $805K | +8.5% | #667 of 1,611 |
| 3Lafourche Parish, LA | 54 | 17 | 4.5 | $900K | −2.0% | #719 of 1,611 |
| 4Bossier Parish, LA | 53 | 23 | 4.5 | $939K | +2.5% | #743 of 1,611 |
| 5Jefferson Parish, LA | 53 | 82 | 4.6 | $923K | −1.9% | #744 of 1,611 |
| 6St. Martin Parish, LA | 52 | 8 | 4.1 | $901K | −1.0% | #769 of 1,611 |
| 7St. Charles Parish, LA | 50 | 10 | 5.4 | $939K | −3.7% | #818 of 1,611 |
| 8St. Bernard Parish, LA | 47 | 9 | 5.5 | $699K | +4.1% | #904 of 1,611 |
| 9Natchitoches Parish, LA | 46 | 5 | 3.4 | $1M | −3.5% | #916 of 1,611 |
| 10Terrebonne Parish, LA | 46 | 18 | 4.3 | $906K | −4.8% | #921 of 1,611 |
| 11Ascension Parish, LA | 46 | 40 | 8.4 | $675K | +6.4% | #936 of 1,611 |
| 12Acadia Parish, LA | 45 | 9 | 4.1 | $807K | −0.8% | #957 of 1,611 |
| 13Iberia Parish, LA | 44 | 8 | 3.0 | $1.2M | −4.6% | #969 of 1,611 |
| 14Lafayette Parish, LA | 43 | 74 | 7.3 | $605K | +6.5% | #1,023 of 1,611 |
| 15Iberville Parish, LA | 40 | 5 | 4.4 | $883K | −1.6% | #1,092 of 1,611 |
| 16Calcasieu Parish, LA | 40 | 47 | 6.0 | $731K | −3.7% | #1,101 of 1,611 |
| 17Ouachita Parish, LA | 38 | 30 | 4.9 | $800K | −1.0% | #1,139 of 1,611 |
| 18Plaquemines Parish, LA | 36 | 6 | 7.3 | $679K | −5.3% | #1,183 of 1,611 |
| 19East Baton Rouge Parish, LA | 34 | 133 | 7.5 | $601K | +0.1% | #1,248 of 1,611 |
| 20Vermilion Parish, LA | 34 | 14 | 6.4 | $559K | +1.3% | #1,251 of 1,611 |
| 21St. John the Baptist Parish, LA | 33 | 10 | 6.6 | $555K | −5.9% | #1,274 of 1,611 |
| 22Tangipahoa Parish, LA | 33 | 38 | 7.3 | $513K | +5.8% | #1,279 of 1,611 |
| 23Evangeline Parish, LA | 32 | 5 | 4.0 | $755K | −1.0% | #1,290 of 1,611 |
| 24Orleans Parish, LA | 31 | 108 | 6.9 | $635K | −5.5% | #1,311 of 1,611 |
| 25St. Mary Parish, LA | 31 | 11 | 6.0 | $561K | −5.3% | #1,316 of 1,611 |
Show all 64 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26East Feliciana Parish, LA | 29 | 5 | 7.8 | $594K | −2.8% | #1,353 of 1,611 |
| 27Caddo Parish, LA | 27 | 47 | 4.9 | $732K | −5.4% | #1,385 of 1,611 |
| 28Lincoln Parish, LA | 26 | 12 | 6.5 | $541K | +0.1% | #1,407 of 1,611 |
| 29St. Landry Parish, LA | 24 | 23 | 7.1 | $434K | −1.9% | #1,434 of 1,611 |
| 30Rapides Parish, LA | 23 | 32 | 6.5 | $580K | −2.9% | #1,437 of 1,611 |
| 31Webster Parish, LA | 21 | 14 | 9.8 | $293K | −5.2% | #1,475 of 1,611 |
| 32Washington Parish, LA | 20 | 8 | 4.5 | $688K | −0.9% | #1,476 of 1,611 |
| 33Morehouse Parish, LA | 9 | 6 | 6.1 | $479K | −6.9% | #1,585 of 1,611 |
| 34Avoyelles Parish, LA | 2 | 14 | 9.7 | $306K | −4.3% | #1,609 of 1,611 |
| Vernon Parish, LA | Not scored | 4 | 2.2 | $1.5M | −7.3% | |
| Beauregard Parish, LA | Not scored | 3 | 2.2 | $1.8M | +0.2% | |
| Jefferson Davis Parish, LA | Not scored | 1 | 0.8 | $4.3M | −2.4% | |
| West Baton Rouge Parish, LA | Not scored | 4 | 3.6 | $1.3M | +5.5% | |
| De Soto Parish, LA | Not scored | 1 | 1.0 | $3.8M | +2.0% | |
| Allen Parish, LA | Not scored | 4 | 5.1 | $596K | 0.0% | |
| Grant Parish, LA | Not scored | 1 | 1.3 | $2.9M | −0.3% | |
| Sabine Parish, LA | Not scored | 3 | 3.4 | $1M | −1.2% | |
| Union Parish, LA | Not scored | 4 | 4.7 | $642K | −2.5% | |
| Assumption Parish, LA | Not scored | 1 | 1.1 | $3.2M | −5.9% | |
| Pointe Coupee Parish, LA | Not scored | 2 | 2.4 | $1.8M | −5.6% | |
| Richland Parish, LA | Not scored | 3 | 4.1 | $896K | −2.2% | |
| St. James Parish, LA | Not scored | 4 | 5.3 | $871K | −5.9% | |
| Franklin Parish, LA | Not scored | 3 | 4.0 | $819K | −3.6% | |
| Concordia Parish, LA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −4.0% | |
| West Feliciana Parish, LA | Not scored | 1 | 2.5 | $1.9M | −0.7% | |
| Jackson Parish, LA | Not scored | 3 | 5.4 | $520K | +5.6% | |
| LaSalle Parish, LA | Not scored | 1 | 2.0 | $2M | +2.2% | |
| Claiborne Parish, LA | Not scored | 2 | 3.9 | $668K | −5.3% | |
| Winn Parish, LA | Not scored | 1 | 2.1 | $1.7M | +9.1% | |
| Bienville Parish, LA | Not scored | 2 | 3.6 | $753K | −5.0% | |
| St. Helena Parish, LA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −1.2% | |
| Madison Parish, LA | Not scored | 4 | 13.1 | $226K | −10.9% | |
| Caldwell Parish, LA | Not scored | 1 | 2.7 | $1.4M | −2.8% | |
| West Carroll Parish, LA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −5.5% | |
| Catahoula Parish, LA | Not scored | 1 | 3.1 | $911K | −7.0% | |
| Red River Parish, LA | Not scored | 1 | 3.2 | $1M | −5.5% | |
| East Carroll Parish, LA | Not scored | 3 | 11.5 | $248K | −8.6% | |
| Cameron Parish, LA | Not scored | 1 | 5.0 | $892K | −16.1% | |
| Tensas Parish, LA | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | n/a | −9.9% |
Markets with fewer than 5 child care centers and preschools on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many child care centers and preschools are in Louisiana?
Map listings as of September 2026 show 1,018 child care centers and preschools in Louisiana. 63 of them (6%) are chain locations. The listings count day care centers and preschools. Official counts show 1,040 businesses with payroll classed as child care services in 2023, up 7.1% from 2019. Official counts list 8,839 one-person businesses without payroll.
How much do households in Louisiana spend on child care and other personal services?
About $742.4M a year, or $411 per household. That is 29% below the U.S. average (an index of 71, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 1,018 child care centers and preschools on map listings, it comes to $729K per center. It is estimated from the incomes of the 1,804,780 households in Louisiana and national spending patterns by income.
How does Louisiana compare with the U.S. for child care centers and preschools?
Louisiana has 5.6 child care centers and preschools per 10,000 households, 3% below the U.S. rate of 5.8. Spending per center is $729K, 27% below the U.S. figure of $1M. At the U.S. ratio of child care centers and preschools to household spending, Louisiana would have about 741, against 1,018 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 1,735 households, against one for every 1,573 across the U.S. The official count rose 7.1% from 2019 to 2023, against +5.7% for the U.S.
Which market in Louisiana has the highest market score for child care centers and preschools?
Among 10 scored metro areas in or partly in Louisiana, the Slidell-Mandeville-Covington metro area scores highest, at 57 (upper middle). Among 8 scored small-town markets in or partly in Louisiana, the Natchitoches area scores highest, at 50 (upper middle). Among 34 scored counties in Louisiana, St. Tammany Parish scores highest, at 62 (upper middle). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Louisiana scores 30 for child care centers and preschools (lower middle), #44 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Louisiana. It maps the child care centers and preschools on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
Child care and preschools in other states
All 51 states
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- Louisiana
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- South Carolina
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- Texas
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- West Virginia
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Top markets for child care centers and preschools across the U.S. · All business types in Louisiana
Screening a site or an acquisition in Louisiana?
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This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.