Gonzales receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Gonzales
Morgan City
Opportunity
71 · Top 21%
vs53 · Bottom 43%
Growth
93 · Top 1%
vs37 · Bottom 27%
Climate
77 · Top 25%
vs79 · Top 19%
Physical resilience
31 · Bottom 25%
vs25 · Bottom 21%
Housing affordability
87 · Top 39%
vs97 · Top 16%
Schools
62 · Top 37%
vs64 · Top 34%
Access
78 · Bottom 19%
vs73 · Bottom 15%
Economic stability
62 · Top 45%
vs34 · Bottom 10%
Measured values
| Metric | Gonzales | Morgan City | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,108 | 11,064 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $75,451 | $56,474 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,944 | $29,178 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,431/sq mi | 1,849/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $225,800 | $155,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,497 | $917 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.6% | 57.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 2.0% | 1.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.1% | 15.3% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.0% | 17.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 401 | 22 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 30.6 | 2.0 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 498.5% | -12.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 42°F | 46°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 42 mi | 47 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 27.7 min | 24.1 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.9 | 38.6 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 8 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 12.72 | 13.79 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 34.0% | 38.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 46.5% | 42.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 61.8% | 70.7% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Gonzales
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Morgan City
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, drought, coastal flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Gonzales
70
Your Score
69
Area Score
Morgan City
58
Your Score
57
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Gonzales, LA · Morgan City, LA · How this is calculated: methodology