Cost of Living in Rapides Parish, Louisiana
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Rapides Parish Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Rapides Parish ranks #1,760 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 44%)
Sourced county brief
Rapides Parish Rent-to-Income Ratio Below Louisiana County Mean
The official ACS B25071 gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in Rapides Parish was 32.3%. This canonical rent-to-income percentage is 0.4 percentage points below the Louisiana unweighted county mean of 32.7%. The median gross rent was $950 per month, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $914. Renter households in the parish had a median income of $33,255. For owner-occupied housing units, the median home value was $181,100, which is higher than the state unweighted county mean of $167,369. Median selected monthly owner costs were estimated at $819 per month, which is $81 above the state unweighted county mean of $738. These data points are based on the 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Rapides Parish
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 32.3% of renter household income in Rapides Parish, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $950 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $819. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $38,000 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Louisiana unweighted mean of county median rents is $914 per month. Rapides Parish's $950 median is 3.9% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Rapides Parish
Rent Burden
20.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,283
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.9%
of gross income
The median home in Rapides Parish may be a stretch
Median home value is $181,100. Estimated monthly cost: $1,446 vs. your max of $1,283.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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