1st Advantage MortgageThe median East Baton Rouge Parish household earns $63,071, and 20% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- East Baton Rouge Parish at a glance
- Income in East Baton Rouge Parish compared with Louisiana
- Housing costs in East Baton Rouge Parish
- Work, industries and travel time in East Baton Rouge Parish
- East Baton Rouge Parish and the counties next door
- East Baton Rouge Parish towns compared
- More East Baton Rouge Parish figures
- Local borrowing considerations for East Baton Rouge Parish
- Room for a loan payment in East Baton Rouge Parish
- Louisiana rules that apply in East Baton Rouge Parish
- Steps before you apply in East Baton Rouge Parish
- More guides for East Baton Rouge Parish
- Frequently asked questions
East Baton Rouge Parish at a glance
Roughly 452,938 residents live in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, 1st by population among the state's 64 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 456 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 994 per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Baton Rouge, LA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 14 Census places inside East Baton Rouge Parish, Baton Rouge leads by population with about 222,771; 4 of the 14 are incorporated.
Income in East Baton Rouge Parish compared with Louisiana
Half of East Baton Rouge Parish households take in less than $63,071 a year and half take in more, 4% above the Louisiana median of $60,756. Only 21 Louisiana counties post a higher median.
| Household income | East Baton Rouge Parish | vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.9% | -1.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.4% | 0.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.4% | -0.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.3% | +2.5 pts |
About 29% of households earn under $35,000, while 32% clear $100,000. 19.6% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 18.9%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.518 here. None of these numbers decides a East Baton Rouge Parish application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Housing costs in East Baton Rouge Parish
Renters in East Baton Rouge Parish pay a median of $1,147 a month, 8% above the Louisiana figure of $1,064. 57% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 31% spend half or more. With a median value of $248,800, a typical East Baton Rouge Parish house costs 3.9 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 59% of homes. The median year built is 1984.
| Measure | East Baton Rouge Parish | Louisiana | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,147/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $248,800 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 59% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 57% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 2.7% | 12.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 14% | 14% | 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.
Work, industries and travel time in East Baton Rouge Parish
The biggest employer of East Baton Rouge Parish residents, by industry, is education and health care at 26% of workers, followed by professional and administrative services (11%). The survey's unemployment rate for East Baton Rouge Parish averages 7.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.3%). Long commutes are the exception here: 10% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | East Baton Rouge Parish | Difference from Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.3% | +0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 10.6% | +0.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.5% | -0.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.4% | +1.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.5% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 7.2% | -1.2 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
East Baton Rouge Parish and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (14 to 30 miles). Ascension Parish leads the group on income ($91,549), St. Helena Parish trails ($41,934), and East Baton Rouge Parish out-earns 2 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Baton Rouge Parish | - | $63,071 | $1,147/mo | 59% |
| West Baton Rouge Parish, LA | 14 mi | $87,299 | $973/mo | 77% |
| East Feliciana Parish, LA | 21 mi | $73,085 | $911/mo | 86% |
| Livingston Parish, LA | 23 mi | $80,122 | $1,151/mo | 81% |
| Iberville Parish, LA | 25 mi | $54,000 | $827/mo | 75% |
| Ascension Parish, LA | 26 mi | $91,549 | $1,318/mo | 81% |
| St. Helena Parish, LA | 30 mi | $41,934 | $870/mo | 79% |
East Baton Rouge Parish towns compared
14 Census places fall mainly inside East Baton Rouge Parish; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 366,817 residents, leaving about 19% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $107,021 at the median in Shenandoah, $41,500 in Merrydale. Median rent ranges from $993 in Baker to $1,651 in Brownfields. City guides exist for the linked East Baton Rouge Parish places; everyone else in the county can use this page.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | city | 222,771 | $49,994 | $1,067 | 8 mi |
| Central | city | 29,783 | $89,554 | $1,309 | 4 mi |
| Zachary | city | 19,952 | $84,480 | $1,527 | 9 mi |
| Shenandoah | CDP | 17,998 | $107,021 | $1,201 | 11 mi |
| Baker | city | 12,253 | $54,750 | $993 | 5 mi |
| Gardere | CDP | 12,223 | $55,409 | $1,157 | 13 mi |
| Merrydale | CDP | 9,490 | $41,500 | $1,311 | 3 mi |
| Oak Hills Place | CDP | 9,038 | $92,306 | $1,422 | 12 mi |
| Village St. George | CDP | 8,273 | $96,364 | $1,451 | 13 mi |
| Old Jefferson | CDP | 7,860 | $92,075 | $1,357 | 13 mi |
| Inniswold | CDP | 6,357 | $102,337 | $1,550 | 10 mi |
| Brownfields | CDP | 4,261 | $65,929 | $1,651 | 2 mi |
| Monticello | CDP | 3,999 | $70,441 | $1,284 | 5 mi |
| Westminster | CDP | 2,559 | $70,245 | $1,482 | 9 mi |
More East Baton Rouge Parish figures
College graduates make up 39% of the adult population. 8.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | East Baton Rouge Parish | All of Louisiana | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.1 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 38.5% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.2% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.2% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.1% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.6% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.6% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.7% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of East Baton Rouge Parish workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 44.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.4% |
| 60+ min | 5.0% |
Local borrowing considerations for East Baton Rouge Parish
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for East Baton Rouge Parish borrowers.
- Assistance before credit. With a 20% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any East Baton Rouge Parish loan.
- Renters under pressure. When 57% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Room for a loan payment in East Baton Rouge Parish
How much room does a median East Baton Rouge Parish budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,256 before taxes
- Median rent: $1,147, or 22 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $745 a month
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,113 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $1,147, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Louisiana rules that apply in East Baton Rouge Parish
Consumer lenders serving East Baton Rouge Parish are licensed by the state, not the county; in Louisiana that is the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Louisiana guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in East Baton Rouge Parish
Steps that save money for East Baton Rouge Parish residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for East Baton Rouge Parish
Guides that cover parts of East Baton Rouge Parish:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical East Baton Rouge Parish household make?
About $63,071 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 4% above the Louisiana median.
What do renters pay in East Baton Rouge Parish?
$1,147 a month at the median, about 22% of median household income.
Does this page cover Baton Rouge?
Yes, along with the other 13 Census places in East Baton Rouge Parish, such as Central, Zachary, Shenandoah.
Can East Baton Rouge 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.
Who do I complain to about a lender in East Baton Rouge Parish?
Start with the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.