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Searching for a scenic riverfront city that’s affordable, deeply cultural, and offers unique lifestyle perks? Shreveport, Louisiana, might be the place for you. Shreveport offers amenities and a low-key, livable lifestyle. If you’re moving to Shreveport, or just arrived, keep this Shreveport Moving Guide handy. It’s brought to you by NSA Storage. Read on to discover what makes Shreveport so appealing and why it could be your new home!
A Quick Look at Shreveport Features
When it comes to choosing a place to start a business, a family, or a career, one word comes to mind: livability. A livable city makes life more fun, more affordable, less stressful, and more impactful. Shreveport, LA, ticks all of those boxes!
Consider these features and benefits:
- Shreveport is one of Louisiana’s most affordable cities.
- The city offers free bus service for everyone.
- Shreveport offers a dynamic, exciting riverfront lifestyle, with fishing, boating, dining, and other enjoyable amenities.
- Riverboat Casinos provide upscale, exciting entertainment on the Red River!
- Shreveport gently blends historic neighborhoods with modern dining and shopping areas.
- Barksdale Air Force Base, one of the most strategically important military installations in the United States, is located here and one of the city’s major employers.
- The Red River Arts Festival is held annually in Shreveport, one of the biggest arts festivals in the country.
- Dallas-Fort Worth is about 3 hours’ drive, making big-city day trips a distinct possibility.
This city of about 180,000 holds a lot more in store for new arrivals and residents alike. This combination of affordability and low-key, riverfront lifestyle is hard to beat, and makes Shreveport an appealing choice.
Shreveport’s Cost of Living is a Winner
One of the strongest selling points about Shreveport is the city’s affordable cost of living. That includes lower housing, transportation, and other major costs, making the city a strong choice for budget-conscious individuals.
Here are a few facts and figures about the cost of living in Shreveport, LA:
- Housing costs are a BIG win in Shreveport, sitting roughly 38% lower than the U.S. average!
- Shreveport is ranked #40 on a list of 229 U.S. cities for affordability.
- The cost of living here is between 7 – 10% below the national average.
- The median rent in Shreveport is an affordable $980 – $1,040 per month. That’s well below the country’s average.
- The cost of groceries in the city is 18% lower than the national average, another big win, especially for growing families.
If you want to purchase a home, consider this: Shreveport’s median home price runs between $130,000 – $180,000. Now compare that to:
- Dallas / Ft. Worth, TX – $430,000
- Atlanta, GA – $350,000
- Nashville, TN – $460,000
- Phoenix, AZ – $460,000
- Orlando, FL – $405,000
- New Orleans, LA – $250,000
You’re not saving a small amount when you buy a home in Shreveport; your home-buying power increases dramatically. For the price of a small condo in another city, you can afford a comfortable, single-family home with a nice yard. That’s a major lifestyle changer!
Food and Entertainment
You won’t find some of the same experiences in Shreveport that you’ll find in nearby Dallas. However, this trendy city still offers a wide range of exciting, interesting, and delicious treats! From music and art to dining and theatre, Shreveport shines.
Here’s a look at what you can enjoy when you live here:
- A strong Cajun and Creole influence in local restaurants
- Some of the best BBQ in the south
- A blues and jazz scene with deep, soul-soothing roots
- Many locally-owned diners and restaurants with their own unique styles, flavors, and ambiances
- Amazing Mardi Gras celebrations around the city
- A multitude of live music venues
Festivals in Shreveport
A multi-day event featuring food, music, and, of course, local and national artists. The festival usually has hundreds of visual art booths to see and enjoy.
If you love crawfish you won’t want to miss this festival, one of the best in the south! With delicious Cajun food, Zydeco music, fun crafts, and exciting activities for the kid, it’s a genuine family-friendly festival!
Highland Jazz & Blues Festival
If blues and jazz are the jelly to your jam, don’t miss this one! Held annually near the end of the summer, it’s free to all and a musical blast.
Sci-fi, cosplay, and collectibles; this pop culture fest brings them all together, plus anime, gaming, and interactive events! Taco Wars Festival
Nothing says the start of spring like a taco and salsa competition between Shreveport’s taquerias! Great food and fun, with lots of free samples.
Another free celebration, this one features a spectacular light display below the Texas Street Bridge (aka the Long-Allen Bridge) on the Red River! This family-friendly event also features a dedicated kids zone!
Held, not surprisingly, during the winter holidays, this event includes Shreveport and several other nearby cities. It includes magnificent lights, of course, as well as fireworks and special, seasonal events.
Krewe Parades (Centaur, Gemini, Highland)
During Mardi Gras, Shreveport has several daytime parades that are free, family-friendly, and fantastic!
Arts and Nature
Festivals are fun, no doubt, but if you’re more interested in arts and natural beauty, Shreveport has that, too! From world-class museums to soul-soothing natural locations, you and your family will be able to relax and be inspired regularly.
Here are a few of the city’s best natural and cultural gems:
Red River National Wildlife Refuge
A scenic and spectacular habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife, the refuge has multiple trails for hiking and birdwatching.
With touch tanks for the kids, exciting shark exhibits, and over 3,000 animals, this is one of the top zoos in the country.
A very popular spot for fishing, boating, and picnicking.
The Strand has been putting on shows since it opened in 1925, hosting comedians, dancers, actors, musicians, and more inside the historic and visually stunning theater.
Lots of walking trails as well as playgrounds for the kids and picnic areas to relax and enjoy your day.
A favorite route for joggers and cyclists, thanks to the picturesque views of the Red River.
The county’s largest park that’s dedicated to roses, with over 20,000 rose bushes to flood your senses.
R.W. Norton Art Gallery & Louisiana State Exhibit Museum
Rotating exhibits and a variety of history and arts venues make this a must-see venue in Shreveport.
Shreveport has some truly breathtaking architecture, including the:
- Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium
- Petroleum Tower
- Shreveport Waterworks Pumping Station Museum.
Stable, Diverse Economy
Shreveport’s economy is stable and diverse. That makes it a solid place to work from home, start a small business, or enjoy lower stress levels.
Some of the key industries in Shreveport include:
- Healthcare– Willis-Knighton Health System is one of the largest employers in the region.
- Education– Shreveport is served by Caddo Parish Public Schools (CPPS), one of the area’s largest school districts.
- Manufacturing– Frymaster LLC, Firebox Corporation, Ivan Smith Furniture, Sports South and several others.
- Logistics & Transportation– Various Port of Caddo-Bossier tenants that are tied to both rail and river transit.
- Gaming & Hospitality– Top hotels and resorts are found here in Louisiana’s second-largest gaming market.
NSA Storage Can Help with Your Move to Shreveport
Shreveport is a hidden southern gem on the Red River, with a laid-back, affordable, and enjoyable lifestyle. If you’re moving to Shreveport soon and need to reserve storage units in Shreveport, NSA Storage has what you need. Our safe, clean, and secure self-storage units in Shreveport, LA, can store almost anything. From household goods to work equipment, antiques, collectibles, and vehicles like cars and boats, our convenient locations make storage simple and accessible for you.
When you’re ready, contact us online, or visit a local Shreveport NSA Storage facility in person and get self-storage answers from one of our certified, friendly reps. Until then, if you’re moving to Shreveport soon, best of luck with everything. And hey, if you’ve just arrived, welcome home!
