1st Advantage MortgageBossier Parish households have a median income of $69,617 and median rent of $1,174 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Louisiana license first.
On this page
- Bossier Parish at a glance
- Housing costs in Bossier Parish
- Household income in Bossier Parish
- Jobs and commutes in Bossier Parish
- Bossier Parish next to its neighbors
- Bossier Parish towns compared
- People and households in Bossier Parish
- Local borrowing considerations for Bossier Parish
- What a median Bossier Parish budget can carry
- Checking a lender's license in Louisiana
- A Bossier Parish borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Bossier Parish at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Bossier Parish's population at 129,789; only 11 of Louisiana's 64 county-level areas are larger. It covers 840 square miles of land, or about 155 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Shreveport-Bossier City, LA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Bossier City is the biggest of its 6 Census places, at roughly 62,901 people (48% of the county total).
Housing costs in Bossier Parish
Renters in Bossier Parish pay a median of $1,174 a month, 10% above the Louisiana figure of $1,064. By the Census definition, 52% of Bossier Parish renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $227,200, about 3.3 times the median household income. 65% of Bossier Parish households own their home and 35% rent. Median construction year: 1991.
| Cost | Bossier Parish | Louisiana figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,174/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $227,200 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 52% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 13.2% | 12.6% | n/a |
High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Household income in Bossier Parish
Half of Bossier Parish households take in less than $69,617 a year and half take in more, 15% above the Louisiana median of $60,756. Only 9 Louisiana counties post a higher median.
| Income band | Share in Bossier Parish | Difference from Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.8% | -7.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.5% | +4.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.0% | +2.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.7% | -0.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 33% of Bossier Parish households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 15.9%, 3 points lower than the state's 18.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.462 here. A household earning below the $69,617 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Jobs and commutes in Bossier Parish
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. The survey's unemployment rate for Bossier Parish averages 5.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.3%). Long commutes are the exception here: 9% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Sector | Bossier Parish | Compared with Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.0% | +0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +1.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.4% | -0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.0% | -0.3 pts |
| Construction | 7.6% | -0.7 pts |
| Public administration | 6.9% | +1.4 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Bossier Parish next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 17 to 43 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $32,831 in Claiborne Parish to $55,334 in Columbia County; none of these neighbors top Bossier Parish's median. Some neighbors are in Arkansas. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Bossier Parish resident follows Louisiana rules.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bossier Parish | - | $69,617 | $1,174/mo | 65% |
| Webster Parish, LA | 17 mi | $41,182 | $795/mo | 67% |
| Caddo Parish, LA | 17 mi | $50,705 | $974/mo | 60% |
| Lafayette County, AR | 37 mi | $41,278 | $755/mo | 79% |
| Claiborne Parish, LA | 38 mi | $32,831 | $674/mo | 69% |
| Bienville Parish, LA | 42 mi | $35,011 | $606/mo | 70% |
| Columbia County, AR | 43 mi | $55,334 | $649/mo | 71% |
Bossier Parish towns compared
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 63% of Bossier Parish residents live in one of the 6. Red Chute has the highest median household income on the list ($86,124) and Plain Dealing the lowest ($48,894), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Plain Dealing ($487) and steepest in Red Chute ($2,095). No Bossier Parish place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bossier City | city | 62,901 | $55,819 | $1,107 | 12 mi |
| Red Chute | CDP | 6,526 | $86,124 | $2,095 | 9 mi |
| Haughton | town | 4,485 | $51,932 | $1,087 | 14 mi |
| Eastwood | CDP | 4,440 | $80,603 | $1,017 | 10 mi |
| Benton | town | 2,548 | $58,143 | $873 | 7 mi |
| Plain Dealing | town | 929 | $48,894 | $487 | 15 mi |
People and households in Bossier Parish
College graduates make up 28% of the adult population. 9.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Bossier Parish | Louisiana | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.7 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.4% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.1% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 9.5% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.3% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.9% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.9% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 27.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 43.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.1% |
| 60+ min | 4.2% |
Local borrowing considerations for Bossier Parish
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Bossier Parish borrowers.
- 13% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Tight rental budgets. With 52% of Bossier Parish renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
What a median Bossier Parish budget can carry
Here is the Bossier Parish median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $69,617 a year is $5,801 of gross monthly income
- 20% goes to median rent ($1,174)
- With a 36% ceiling, about $915 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checking a lender's license in Louisiana
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Bossier Parish borrowers answers to the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Louisiana state guide for the statewide picture.
A Bossier Parish borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Bossier Parish borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Ask a Bossier Parish credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Louisiana guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Bossier Parish?
$69,617 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $60,756 for Louisiana. It ranks 10th of 64 in the state.
Is Bossier Parish expensive for renters?
Median rent is $1,174 against $1,064 statewide, and 52% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Which towns does the Bossier Parish guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Bossier City, Red Chute, Haughton, Eastwood, Benton.
Can Bossier 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.
Is there a Bossier Parish office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Louisiana it is the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions.