1st Advantage MortgageBienville Parish households have a median income of $35,011 and median rent of $606 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Who lives in Bienville Parish
- Renting and owning in Bienville Parish
- What Bienville Parish households earn
- Employment and commuting in Bienville Parish
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Towns and communities in Bienville Parish
- Bienville Parish residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Bienville Parish
- What a median Bienville Parish budget can carry
- A Bienville Parish borrower's checklist
- Lender oversight for Bienville Parish
- More guides for Bienville Parish
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Bienville Parish
Roughly 12,638 residents live in Bienville Parish, Louisiana, 55th by population among the state's 64 counties and county equivalents. It covers 811 square miles of land, or about 16 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Bienville Parish in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 10 Census places inside Bienville Parish, Arcadia leads by population with about 2,635; 10 of the 10 are incorporated.
Renting and owning in Bienville Parish
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $606 in Bienville Parish versus $1,064 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 54% of renter households here. With a median value of $99,500, a typical Bienville Parish house costs 2.8 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 70% of homes. The median home was built in 1979, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Bienville Parish | Louisiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $606/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $99,500 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 44% | 28% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 19% | 14% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
What Bienville Parish households earn
The median household income in Bienville Parish is $35,011; statewide it is $60,756, so Bienville Parish runs 42% below Louisiana as a whole. In the state ranking that is 62nd of 64.
| Household income | Bienville Parish | vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 50.0% | +19.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 35.5% | -3.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 12.1% | -10.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.4% | -5.4 pts |
About 50% of households earn under $35,000, while 15% clear $100,000. 29.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 18.9%). A household earning below the $35,011 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in Bienville Parish
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Bienville Parish residents work in education and health care and 14% in manufacturing. The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 14% locally and 8% for Louisiana. Averaged over the five survey years, 6.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 25% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 9.8% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Bienville Parish | Compared with Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.6% | -0.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 14.3% | +6.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +1.1 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | 0.0 pts |
| Other services | 7.4% | +2.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.2% | +4.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Bienville Parish should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Red River Parish is closest, 24 miles from center to center; the sixth, Winn Parish, is 36 miles off. Red River Parish leads the group on income ($49,167), Claiborne Parish trails ($32,831), and Bienville Parish out-earns 1 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bienville Parish | - | $35,011 | $606/mo | 70% |
| Red River Parish, LA | 24 mi | $49,167 | $729/mo | 77% |
| Jackson Parish, LA | 28 mi | $44,925 | $736/mo | 70% |
| Lincoln Parish, LA | 29 mi | $39,172 | $825/mo | 54% |
| Webster Parish, LA | 32 mi | $41,182 | $795/mo | 67% |
| Claiborne Parish, LA | 34 mi | $32,831 | $674/mo | 69% |
| Winn Parish, LA | 36 mi | $48,871 | $774/mo | 71% |
Towns and communities in Bienville Parish
10 Census places fall mainly inside Bienville Parish; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 6,011 residents, leaving about 52% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $22,121 in Gibsland to $30,592 in Ringgold. Live in one of these Bienville Parish communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arcadia | town | 2,635 | $24,860 | $705 | 16 mi |
| Ringgold | town | 1,405 | $30,592 | $465 | 14 mi |
| Gibsland | town | 681 | $22,121 | $567 | 14 mi |
| Castor | village | 325 | $30,179 | $435 | 9 mi |
| Lucky | village | 196 | $31,250 | $867 | 7 mi |
| Saline | village | 188 | n/a | $706 | 13 mi |
| Jamestown | village | 165 | $50,250 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Mount Lebanon | town | 143 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Bryceland | village | 139 | $72,870 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Bienville | village | 134 | $34,167 | $638 | 4 mi |
Bienville Parish residents: age, schooling, coverage
13% of Bienville Parish adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 9% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Bienville Parish | All of Louisiana | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.9 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.2% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.0% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.6% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.8% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 29.2% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.3% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Bienville Parish workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.8% |
| 60+ min | 15.1% |
Before borrowing in Bienville Parish
Where the Bienville Parish numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Commuter costs. 25% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- 32% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- 29% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Rent squeeze. 54% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
What a median Bienville Parish budget can carry
Here is the Bienville Parish median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $2,918 gross per month ($35,011 / 12)
- Less median rent of $606, which is 21% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $444 a month
- Under a 43% cap, $1,255 total minus rent leaves $649
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Bienville Parish's.
A Bienville Parish borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Bienville Parish:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Louisiana license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Lender oversight for Bienville Parish
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Bienville Parish borrowers answers to the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Louisiana guide.
More guides for Bienville Parish
The Louisiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bienville Parish a high-income county?
Its $35,011 median ranks 62nd of 64 Louisiana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Bienville Parish?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $606 a month; 54% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in Bienville Parish. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 70% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Bienville Parish town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Arcadia, Ringgold, Gibsland, Castor, Lucky and 5 more.
Can Bienville Parish residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Louisiana county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.