ABiz -> By the Numbers

By the Numbers April/May 2011

1
Youngsville’s ranking among the 2011
“Best Places to Live in Louisiana”
Population: 6,364
Median household income
(adjusted for cost of living): $74,809
Bachelor’s degree or higher
(25 years and over): 36.8%
Property crime rate per
1,000 residents
(burglary and auto thefts): 2.67

9
Lafayette’s ranking on the “Best Places” list
(behind Blanchard, Mandeville, Zachary, Abita Springs, Brusly, Harahan and Covington)
Population: 114,918
Median household income (adjusted for cost of living): $52,057
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25 years and over): 33.8%
Property crime rate per 1,000 residents (burglary and auto thefts): 16.15
Source: J.C. Grant of Yahoo! Contributor Network ranks the best places to live in Louisiana based on three criteria: (1) median household income (adjusted for cost of living); (2) educational attainment (% of residents 25 years and over who have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher); and (3) property crime rates per 1,000 residents (burglary and automobile thefts). The Louisiana ranking was 25th in a 50-state series.

$66 million
Amount a group of Stanford investors, including many from the Lafayette area, claim to have lost in the alleged $8 billion Ponzi scheme. In late March the Lafayette investors filed suit against the SEC and one its former officials, Spencer Barasch, for negligence and misconduct, claiming they turned a blind eye to the massive fraud. As many as 50 plaintiffs are expected to join the suit, Robert J. Dartez LLC, et al v. the United States of America, filed in federal court in Dallas. The largest plaintiff so far in the suit is Robert Hollier of Opelousas, who says he lost $4.8 million.

500
Number of nonfarm jobs Lafayette gained in March, compared to March 2010. Baton Rouge lost 2,500, the largest decline of any metro in the state, and Monroe lost 600. New Orleans was up 3,100, Houma-Thibodaux 2,800, Shreveport-Bossier 2,600 and Alexandria 1,000. Louisiana overall added 10,300 jobs, the sixth consecutive month it has gained.
Source: Louisiana Workforce Commission

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