Southside
Neighborhood in Monroe, Louisiana
Ouachita Parish 71202
Investments for low buy-in require high maintenance
Although rental apartments are the most common housing option, Southside presents some of the lowest prices on single-family properties anywhere in Monroe. Many of the neighborhood's midcentury ranchers and cottages have stood the test of time. Listings in this collection of small but cutesy and colorful homes typically sell for between $80,000 and $200,000, with their prices affected mostly by square footage, number of bedrooms and driveway space. Aside from that, most buyers will have some work on their hands with the remaining options. Investment properties are very common across the neighborhood's many ranchers and cottages, which demand repairs that range from mild to major. As such, their prices range similarly, from as low as $10,000 for a serious project to $70,000 for a home that only needs mild sprucing up.
Splash pad at Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo
Compared to other neighborhoods in Monroe — even neighborhoods where home prices are triple the cost — Southside has a high volume of parks and community centers. The Benoit Recreation Area is among the largest and most activity-laden parks in Southside, offering outdoor options like baseball, tennis and Monroe's first ADA accessible playground. Additionally, the park has a community center with a gymnasium, game room and computer lab. To the south end of the neighborhood, roughly 135 acres of three separate parks coalesce into one large green area. Charles Johnson Park and Bernstein Park press against one another, offering playgrounds, walking trails, fishing lakes and sports courts separated by a quiet road. Sitting in the core of this expanse of parkland is the Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo, an 80-acre zoological park that acts as a lot more than a tourism magnet. "Our property is beautiful," says Louisiana Purchase Zoological Society Manager Mimi Collins. "Especially during the warm months, we see people coming 2-3 times a week just to use the splash pad."Multiple elementary school pathways
Students in Southside attend a variety of schools that all feed into Wossman High School, which serves 9-12 graders with a C-plus Niche score. Students begin at either Berg Jones Elementary, Barkdull Fulk Elementary, or Minnie Ruffin Elementary, all of which have Niche scores of C-minus or higher. In between, students attend C-rated Martin Luther King Jr. Junior High for grades 7-8. Although most students attend schools in the Monroe City Public School District, some students are zoned for Ouachita Parish Public Schools instead.
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Boo at the Zoo and other festivities
Parks offer an important place for community building in Southside. Regular programs and classes are hosted for visitors of all ages at the Harvey H. Benoit Community Center, including monthly movie nights, sewing classes, senior clubs and social mixers. The Louisiana Purchase Gardens & Zoo is also a mainstay for recurring events, such as the Eggstravaganza egg hunt in the spring. On Halloween, the park hosts a costume contest alongside food trucks and vendors during the Boo at the Zoo event. And in the holiday season, young visitors can meet Santa Claus at the annual Jungle Bells holiday party.
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Busy roads lead to Amazon facilities, more opportunities
Although the neighborhood is served by buses for Monroe Transit, the neighborhood is squared in by I-20 and U.S. Route 165. Consequently, life in Southside greatly benefits from owning a car to get things like groceries and employment. But a location south of I-20 means Southside is also positioned for quicker commutes to newer commercial endeavors, such as a planned Amazon distribution facility being built near the Pecanland Mall. "There's a shift back to Monroe occurring with jobs," says Director of Membership and Community Engagement for the Monroe Chamber of Commerce Mike Downhour. "They're building a biofuel factory just south of town here. And it'll be 300 to 500 jobs there. It's like the logging industry is marrying the oil and gas industry."Chicken and waffles from Kravins
Winnsboro Road slices through the northern half of the neighborhood, forming Southside's main commercial strip. Near its intersection with U.S. Route 165, the Mac's Fresh Market at Southgate Shopping Center is how most locals restock their pantries. Down the road, convenience stores and gas stations offer a few places to grab a quick snack. For a sit-down option, family-owned Kravins serves hearty Southern delights like chicken and waffles, fried catfish or chicken wings with 18 options for seasonings and sauces.
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Railyards and flood zones
Northern portions of the neighborhood that abut major roads experience more noise throughout the day than homes further toward the center of Southside. Additionally, a Union Pacific railyard in the western part of the neighborhood presents additional noise and slowdowns along roads that intersect with tracks. Finally, homes just south of Southgate Shopping Center are in a flood zone due to a drainage canal nearby.
Written By
Tom Jakob
Photography Contributed By
Gabor Kovacs
Video By
Jacob Cardwell
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Brock Duncan
Brock Duncan
Keller Williams Parishwide Partners
(318) 599-6774
55 Total Sales
2 in Southside
$35K - $182K Price Range
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Harrison Lilly
Harrison Lilly
Harrison Lilly
(318) 737-1775
821 Total Sales
6 in Southside
$37K - $115K Price Range
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Brian Bendily
Brian Bendily
Responds QuicklyJohn Rea Realty
(318) 772-1203
346 Total Sales
1 in Southside
$75,000 Price
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Lisa Govan
Lisa Govan
Responds QuicklyLisa Govan Realty
(888) 625-3109
230 Total Sales
5 in Southside
$21K - $65K Price Range
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Torri Byrd
Torri Byrd
Responds QuicklyFathom Realty LA
(318) 269-7521
66 Total Sales
1 in Southside
$45,000 Price
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Shelly Smith-Witherington
Shelly Smith-Witherington
Responds QuicklyVanguard Realty
(318) 855-2738
139 Total Sales
1 in Southside
$9,000 Price
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
- 9th to 12th
- Public
- 7th to 8th
- Public
- Pre-K to 6th
- Public
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Harvey H. Benoit Community Center
Bernstein Park
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Southside | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 10 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 7 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 9 | 4 |
| Robbery | 6 | 4 |
| Burglary | 6 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
| Larceny | 4 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 6 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Southside Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Southside, Monroe sell after 40 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Southside, Monroe over the last 12 months is $69,500, up 39% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$70,000
Median Sale Price
$69,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$69,500
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
19
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
39%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$55
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
398
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Median Year Built
1960
Months of Supply
2.50
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,797
Below the national average
1,933
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
9,801
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
14,518
Median Age
33
Population Density
4 ppl/acre
Population under 18
32%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
16.1%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$20,875
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$30,290
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
78.3%
College Graduates
9.1%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
3.4%
% Population in Labor Force
48.6%
Below the national average
65.1%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
55''
Average Winter Low Temperature
37°F
Average Summer High Temperature
93°F
Annual Snowfall
0''
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
37
/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
19
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Southside Riverfront
Housing and infrastructure improvements south of I-20 in Monroe
Downtown Monroe
Colleges and hospitals are helping reimagine the arts and culinary heart of Monroe
Bawcomville
A heavily industrial area with several community groups
Brownsville
A rural community with a number of low-cost properties and land parcels
Garden District
A charmingly picturesque historic neighborhood with small businesses and big parks
Ingleside
Bayou living with easy access to University of Louisiana Monroe
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