Cost of Living in St. James 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 St. James Parish Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
St. James Parish ranks #1,422 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 45%)
Sourced county brief
St. James Parish official GRAPI is 38.0%
St. James Parish has an official median Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) of 38.0%. This official B25071 figure is 5.3 percentage points higher than the Louisiana unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 32.7%. The median gross rent was estimated at $903 per month, which is $11 below the state unweighted county mean of $914. For owner-occupied housing, the median home value is $211,800, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $167,369. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units are $737, which is $1 below the state unweighted county mean of $738. The median renter-household income was recorded at $28,621 during the 2020-2024 estimate period. 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: St. James Parish
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 38.0% of renter household income in St. James 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 $903 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $737. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $36,120 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. St. James Parish's $903 median is 1.3% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in St. James Parish
Rent Burden
16.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,529
per month
Owner Cost Burden
13.5%
of gross income
The median home in St. James Parish may be a stretch
Median home value is $211,800. Estimated monthly cost: $1,691 vs. your max of $1,529.
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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