Sunset Home Trends
Sunset is a rural town in the Saint Landry Parish, about 15 miles north of Lafayette. Although Sunset is a small town, the area is bursting with culture. Once known as the Sweet Potato Capital of the World, Sunset has evolved into a destination for the arts and antiquing. This charming, one-traffic-light community hosts several events that attract visitors from across the parish. Many residents speak French, stemming from their Cajun and Creole roots. Along with building more houses, Sunset is working to improve the downtown area by adding bike lanes, green space, parks, trails, and major chain retailers. Home buyers seeking a pastoral retreat have a variety of housing options to choose from in Sunset. Cozy ranch-style houses and shotgun homes rest on large plots of land. If you’re looking for even more space, there are country homesteads on acres of land available for sale. The average Sunset home price is about $200,000. Although prices have been rising over the past year, home values are beginning to stabilize.
Sunset Attractions
Sunset attracts locals and visitors alike for its thriving arts and antiquing scene. In 2012, Sunset was designated as a Louisiana Cultural District, allowing for original works of art to be sold tax free. The downtown district along Napoleon Avenue is lined with vintage shops, flea markets, art galleries, and studios, along with local cafes serving up classic Louisiana eats like gumbo and spicy seafood. Many of these establishments are located in old buildings that include sweet potato kilns, paying tribute to the town’s former glory as the Sweet Potato Capital of the World. The town is known as the Rubboard Capital of the World, one of four musical instruments founded in the United States, and Louisiana locals come here to purchase them. In true Louisiana fashion, Sunset embraces 'Laissez les bons temps rouler' (let the good times roll) and hosts major special events that attract visitors across the state. The town hosts art walks, farmers markets, and antique markets throughout the year. The annual Celebration of Herbs and Gardens features over 75 vendors selling everything from native plants to herbal products to yard art. The Exit 11 Yard Sale showcases precious antiques at discounted prices. And, of course, Mardi Gras is the biggest event of the year. Sunset hosts a parade, a ball, and a Mardi Gras king and queen crowning each year.
Sunset Schools
The Saint Landry Parish School Board serves Sunset. The school district serves over 12,000 students across 34 schools, including several magnet schools. Many of the schools are highly ranked, like the Magnet Academy for Cultural Arts and Arnaudville Elementary School. Sunset Middle School is the only school located within the boundaries of town, but many of the districts’ schools are nearby in Grand Coteau, Arnaudville, and Opelousas like Beau Chêne High School and Grand Coteau Elementary. The Saint Landry Parish School Board offers a variety of excellent academic programs, including gifted education and Advanced Placement courses. There are several private schools just outside of Sunset as well, including the Saint Ignatius School and the Schools of the Sacred Heart, which share a campus. Academy of the Sacred Heart is an all-girls preparatory school offering instruction from pre-K to 12th grade. Berchmans Academy of the Sacred Heart is an all-boys preparatory school. Residents interested in higher education can travel just 15 miles south to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Louisiana State University Eunice is 28 miles away as well.
Commuting In Sunset
Residents enjoy Sunset’s rural, secluded setting, but the average commute is a bit longer than the national average at 26 minutes. The majority of commuters drive alone or carpool to work. Interstate 49 runs through town and is the most popular roadway for residents who work out of town. Saint Landry Public Transit offers scheduled bus rides across the county and into Lafayette. Sunset has several private airports, like Road Oak Landing Airport, while the Lafayette Regional Airport offers commercial flights from several airlines. The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is about two hours away. Sunset is working to improve the walkability of the city, especially in the downtown area.
