Cost of Living in Tensas Parish, Louisiana
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
How Tensas Parish Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Tensas Parish ranks #627 of 3,144 counties for affordability (top 20%)
Data Story
About Cost of Living in Tensas Parish, Louisiana
Tensas struggles with income-housing mismatch
At 20.4%, Tensas Parish carries Louisiana's highest rent-to-income burden despite the lowest rents in the state at $613 monthly. The core problem: a median household income of just $36,074—$38,681 below the national median—means even cheap housing consumes a larger share of limited earnings.
Louisiana's deepest poverty-housing strain
Tensas Parish bottoms Louisiana's affordability rankings with the state's lowest median household income of $36,074 paired with the highest rent-to-income ratio at 20.4%. This parish faces the most acute housing stress of any Louisiana county.
Cheapest housing but lowest income
Tensas rents of $613 undercut all neighbors—St. Landry ($742), Union ($758)—and homes cost just $80,300. Yet incomes here run $9,563 below St. Landry and $9,669 below Union, making even rock-bottom housing relatively burdensome.
Low rent can't offset low wages
Renters pay $613 monthly while homeowners carry $546, but with a median income of only $36,074, housing still consumes 20.4% of household budgets. This tight squeeze leaves minimal cushion for emergencies or basic needs.
Tensas for remote workers seeking low cost
Remote workers earning non-local incomes could unlock Tensas's lowest-price housing at $80,300 median home value, but traditional job-seekers face severe income constraints here. Evaluate career opportunities carefully before relocating to this economically challenged parish.
Cost of Living Advisory: Tensas Parish
Affordability Verdict
Housing in Tensas Parish is affordable. The median rent is $613/month against a median household income of $36,074, putting rent at 20.4% of income.
Rent vs. Own
The median rent in Tensas Parish is $613/month, while owner costs run $546/month. Owning saves approximately $67/month.
Income Needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $24,520/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $23,400/year. With a median household income of $36,074, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 29.0% of renter households in Tensas Parish are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional Context
Within Louisiana, Tensas Parish is less affordable than Sabine Parish by roughly 8% ($613/mo vs $664/mo).
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Tensas Parish
Rent Burden
20.4%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$842
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.2%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Tensas Parish
Median home value is $80,300. Estimated monthly cost: $641 vs. your max of $842.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
See how much you need to earn to comfortably afford housing
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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 (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.
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