Retire in West Monroe

Located along the banks of the scenic Ouachita River in Northeast Louisiana, the City of West Monroe is a family-friendly community that places significance on providing a top-notch quality of life for its residents and visitors.

The City of West Monroe is located in Ouachita Parish on Interstate 20.  With a population of approximately 12,500 people, West Monroe supports a great quality of life for those young at heart!  West Monroe offers affordable homes, prosperity and growth while offering a variety of outdoor recreation, cultural and family-friendly amenities.

Throughout the West Monroe community, you can find beautiful bayous and lakes and hills that dot the landscape.  West Monroe offers a sunny, mild climate with temperatures topping out at an average ranging from 93 degrees in the summer to 34 degrees in the winter. The spring and fall seasons are very mild and pleasant.  Outdoor activities can be enjoyed year-round.

West Monroe ranks as one of the most affordable places to live in Louisiana with a cost of living at 88.6 percent of the national average – nearly 12 points below the rest of the nation.  The City of West Monroe was recently ranked as No. 3 out of the Top 10 Best Places to Retire in Louisiana by SmartAsset, a New York financial technology company.  The company published a list of the top 10 best places to retire in Louisiana based on tax friendliness, number of doctors’ offices and recreation and social opportunities for seniors.

Your Outdoor Venture Begins in West Monroe

Explore the outdoors at Kiroli Park, a 150-acre park that offers beautiful gardens, hiking, picinic areas, dog park, playgrounds, fishing pond, amphitheater and so much more! *Notice: Kiroli Park is temporarily closed for park updates. Please check here for updates. While in West Monroe, head to Restoration Park, a beautiful 70-acre forest and wetlands area, that features stone trails for jogging, walking or relaxing and with scenic look out areas to view wildlife and native Cypress trees.  You can continue your exploration of the outdoors in Ouachita Parish by foot, boat or kayak at Black Bayou National Wildlife Refuge, Cheniere Lake or Bayou Desiard.

Arts, Culture, Music and More

The West Monroe and Ouachita Parish area are alive with the arts.  The region boasts a variety of opportunities for residents and visitors to experience culture through museums, visual arts, concerts, theatre, dance and other special events.  Stroll through Downtown West Monroe or Downtown Monroe every other month at the Downtown Gallery Crawl or enjoy a live musical performance at one of several venues throughout the community.

Take in a production from one of two professional ballet companies in Ouachita Parish or a theatrical performance from the local community theater, children’s theater or one of three university programs located along Interstate 20.  Visit more than a half dozen area museums that focus on the history of African Americans, aviation and military or the history of the first family to bottle Coca-Cola in this region.  The Northeast Regional Arts Council is a wonderful resource for connecting to all cultural and artistic opportunities in the region.

West Ouachita Senior Center

The West Ouachita Senior Center, located in the heart of the City of West Monroe, is the first Nationally Accredited Senior Center in Louisiana by the National Council on Aging and the National Institute of Senior Centers.  The Senior Center offers seniors the opportunity to gather in social settings, public transportation to access goods and services, continuing education, preventative health screenings and physical fitness and connection to important social services such as SNAP, Medicaid and Medicare enrollment.

We encourage you to learn more about the West Monroe and the services it provides.  You can also learn more about the Ouachita Parish community and attractions.