Shreveport, LA Homes For Rent

Homes for Rent in Shreveport, LA: What You Need to Know

Shreveport is located along the Red River in northwestern Louisiana, opposite Bossier City. Although most people treat them as twin cities, Shreveport is distinctly charming all on its own.

The Local History

Shreveport was originally called Shreve Town in honor of Captain Henry Miller Shreve of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who cleared and opened the river for navigation in 1835. The city changed its name to Shreveport when it was incorporated in March 1839. At the end of the American Civil War, Shreveport was briefly the Confederate state capital and headquarters for the Confederacy’s Trans-Mississippi forces.

The Cost of Living in Shreveport

Shreveport is a budget-friendly small city (population: 187,112). The city’s cost of living, food, and housing costs are 1.4%, 18.4%, and 36.5% lower than the national average respectively. The city’s median gross rent is $810 while the median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $979. Louisiana’s progressive income tax rate ranges from 2% to 6% depending on one’s income bracket. Its sales tax rate is 4.45% to 11.45%.

Know Your Neighborhoods

Living in downtown Shreveport, a state-designated cultural district, means proximity to performance venues, museums, and galleries, not to mention the business district. Downtown has an array of housing options: high-rise apartments, lofts, studios, and renovated historic buildings. Nearly half of all residents in Shreveport proper are renters. For suburbanites, Benton and Red Chute are within commuting distance of Shreveport plus both communities have highly rated schools. Benton gets kudos for its rustic charm and friendly residents.

Job Opportunities

Shreveport is close to the borders of Arkansas and Texas, making the city an important business hub for the Ark-La-Tex region. Coca-Cola, Tire Rack, and Frymaster Corp. are among the companies that maintain facilities at the city’s Shrevepark Industrial Campus. Major employers include Barksdale Air Force Base, Willis-Knighton Healthy System, Louisiana State University Health-Shreveport Education, and Caddo Parish Public Schools Educational Services.

Shreveport’s Weather and Climate

Shreveport typically gets only one inch of snow every year, a lot less than the U.S. average of 28 inches. However, a snowstorm on Jan. 16, 2018, dumped a record 1.8 inches of snow, the most snowfall the city has experienced in one day since February 2015. When it comes to rainfall, Shreveport gets an average of 52 inches of rain compared with the national average of 38 inches. The city enjoys a lot of sunshine – an average of 211 sunny days per year versus the U.S. average of 205 sunny days.