Website ranks Maurice as fastest growing city in Louisiana

The national website World Population Review reports that Maurice is the fastest-growing town or city in Louisiana.
The website says Maurice’s population reached 3,514 in 2026. Since the 2020 census, the town has grown by 6.74 percent, adding 1,329 people in six years.
Mayor Neil Arsement welcomed the recognition, calling it a positive reflection of Maurice’s appeal and quality of life.
“This is wonderful news for our community,” Arsement said. “It shows that people are choosing Maurice as a place to live, particularly those relocating from nearby areas in neighboring parishes.”
Still, Maurice is facing some growing pains that Arsement is working to address. The rapid increase in new neighborhoods over the past six years has put a strain on the town’s infrastructure, especially the roads, which are struggling with heavy traffic and developing potholes and other damage.
Arsement reached out to the Vermilion Parish Police Jury for help with road repairs in the city, but his request was denied. He also asked for assistance to fix a bridge within the city limits, but again, the answer was no.
“We respect the role of the Police Jury and understand that resources are limited,” Arsement said. “However, it is difficult to reconcile our growth and the increasing strain on parish-maintained infrastructure within our town when assistance is not available.
“We are the fastest-growing city in the state. We are also the only town in Vermilion Parish that has grown, but when you ask the Police Jury for help, we get no help,” Arsement said. “ The residents of the Town Of Maurice pay property and sales taxes that go directly to Parish government and they deserve to see a return on their investment, but unfortunately the Police Jury refuses to partner with us to reinvest within Maurice”
He said Maurice growing is a plus for the entire parish.
“When Maurice grows, Vermilion Parish benefits,” he said. “Continued investment in growing communities helps ensure the long-term health and vitality of the entire parish. If Maurice does not continue to grow, the parish will slowly die.”
As the town keeps growing, officials are applying for grants to expand the sewer plant, which can support growth for another five or six years.
If Arsement could have one wish for Maurice as it grows, it would be to find land within the city limits for businesses to build on. He said several businesses want to move to Maurice but are having trouble buying land because owners either do not want to sell or are asking double the appraised value.
“We need landowners to understand that responsible business development is essential to our future,” Arsement said. “Local businesses generate sales tax revenue that supports critical services, including public safety. When land prices are set far above appraised value, it becomes difficult for businesses to invest here, and that ultimately impacts the entire community.”
Carencro is the second-fastest-growing town/city in Louisiana, with its population increasing by about 5,000 over the past six years. In 2020, Carencro’s census count was 9,372, and now it is 14,638.
Youngsville is ranked fifth, Scott is sixth, and Broussard is eighth.
Maurice is the only city in Vermilion Parish to have grown in the past six years. The other five cities in the parish lost population during that time.
• The town of Kaplan lost 254 residents for a new population of 4,079.
• The city of Abbeville saw its population drop by 396 people and now has a population of 10,770.
• The town of Erath lost 96 residents and now has a population of 924 .
• In Gueydan, the population is down by 55 for a total of 1,105 residents.
• Delcambre is down 50 residents and now has a population of 1,752.