1st Advantage MortgageAbout 70% of Avoyelles Parish homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $39,325. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Avoyelles Parish
- What Avoyelles Parish households earn
- Avoyelles Parish housing compared with Louisiana
- Work, industries and travel time in Avoyelles Parish
- Avoyelles Parish and the counties next door
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Avoyelles Parish
- Who lives in Avoyelles Parish, in numbers
- What the numbers mean for Avoyelles Parish borrowers
- Budget math at the Avoyelles Parish median
- Checklist for Avoyelles Parish applicants
- Louisiana rules that apply in Avoyelles Parish
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Avoyelles Parish
Avoyelles Parish is home to about 38,905 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 28th most populous of 64 county-level areas in Louisiana. It covers 831 square miles of land, or about 47 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Avoyelles Parish in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 12 Census places inside Avoyelles Parish, Marksville leads by population with about 4,905; 9 of the 12 are incorporated.
What Avoyelles Parish households earn
Half of Avoyelles Parish households take in less than $39,325 a year and half take in more, 35% below the Louisiana median of $60,756. That places it 58th among Louisiana's 64 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Avoyelles Parish | Gap to Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 45.2% | +14.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.2% | -3.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.5% | -6.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.1% | -4.7 pts |
About 45% of households earn under $35,000, while 19% clear $100,000. 27.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 18.9%). A household earning below the $39,325 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Avoyelles Parish housing compared with Louisiana
Renters in Avoyelles Parish pay a median of $757 a month, 29% below the Louisiana figure of $1,064. By the Census definition, 56% of Avoyelles Parish renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $122,400, a typical Avoyelles Parish house costs 3.1 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 70%. The median year built is 1980.
| Cost | Avoyelles Parish | Louisiana figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $757/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $122,400 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.1% | 12.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 21% | 14% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Work, industries and travel time in Avoyelles Parish
By the Census industry count, 27% of employed Avoyelles Parish residents work in education and health care and 12% in construction. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 12% locally and 8% for Louisiana. Averaged over the five survey years, 6.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 82% drive to work alone and 29% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 9.8% of the total (8.4% statewide).
| Where residents work | Avoyelles Parish | Difference from Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.3% | +1.7 pts |
| Construction | 11.6% | +3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | -0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.6% | +0.3 pts |
| Public administration | 7.7% | +2.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.9% | -2.9 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Avoyelles Parish and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (33 to 36 miles). Income ranges from $39,943 in Concordia Parish to $77,452 in West Feliciana Parish; all six of these neighbors top Avoyelles Parish's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avoyelles Parish | - | $39,325 | $757/mo | 70% |
| Rapides Parish, LA | 33 mi | $54,967 | $950/mo | 65% |
| Concordia Parish, LA | 34 mi | $39,943 | $771/mo | 74% |
| Pointe Coupee Parish, LA | 35 mi | $65,961 | $817/mo | 80% |
| St. Landry Parish, LA | 35 mi | $44,462 | $748/mo | 70% |
| Evangeline Parish, LA | 36 mi | $41,915 | $681/mo | 66% |
| West Feliciana Parish, LA | 36 mi | $77,452 | $1,049/mo | 76% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Avoyelles Parish
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Avoyelles Parish, by population. Together all 12 hold about 17,002 people, so roughly 56% of residents live outside any named place. Fifth Ward has the highest median household income on the list ($51,279) and Center Point the lowest ($14,655), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $583 in Mansura to $888 in Fifth Ward. Live in one of these Avoyelles Parish communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marksville | city | 4,905 | $36,202 | $670 | 5 mi |
| Bunkie | city | 3,253 | $22,267 | $828 | 15 mi |
| Cottonport | town | 1,858 | $31,875 | $738 | 8 mi |
| Simmesport | town | 1,625 | $29,712 | $619 | 12 mi |
| Fifth Ward | CDP | 1,277 | $51,279 | $888 | 11 mi |
| Mansura | town | 1,263 | $21,797 | $583 | 4 mi |
| Hessmer | village | 828 | $50,625 | $589 | 9 mi |
| Moreauville | village | 773 | $48,850 | $740 | 4 mi |
| Center Point | CDP | 580 | $14,655 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Evergreen | town | 297 | $15,938 | $403 | 12 mi |
| Plaucheville | village | 193 | $45,625 | $602 | 9 mi |
| Bordelonville | CDP | 150 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Who lives in Avoyelles Parish, in numbers
11% of Avoyelles Parish adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 7.3%, against 7.8% for Louisiana.
| People and households | Avoyelles Parish | Louisiana | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 11.5% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 23.3% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.3% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.8% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 27.8% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.9% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.3% |
| 60+ min | 20.0% |
What the numbers mean for Avoyelles Parish borrowers
What the Avoyelles Parish figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Long drives. With 29% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Avoyelles Parish budgets.
- Mobile home upkeep. 18% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Assistance before credit. With a 28% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Avoyelles Parish loan.
- Tight rental budgets. With 56% of Avoyelles Parish renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Budget math at the Avoyelles Parish median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Avoyelles Parish's medians:
- Start: $3,277 gross per month ($39,325 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $757 uses 23%
- With a 36% ceiling, about $423 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- $652: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checklist for Avoyelles Parish applicants
Steps that save money for Avoyelles Parish residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Avoyelles Parish-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Louisiana.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Louisiana rules that apply in Avoyelles Parish
Avoyelles Parish borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Louisiana guide.
Related local guides
The Louisiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Avoyelles Parish household make?
About $39,325 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 35% below the Louisiana median.
What do renters pay in Avoyelles Parish?
$757 a month at the median, about 23% of median household income.
Does this page cover Marksville?
Yes, along with the other 11 Census places in Avoyelles Parish, such as Bunkie, Cottonport, Simmesport.
Is the fit check different in Avoyelles Parish?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Avoyelles Parish residents?
The Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Louisiana; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.