1st Advantage MortgageThe median Evangeline Parish household earns $41,915, and 24% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Evangeline Parish at a glance
- Housing costs in Evangeline Parish
- Paychecks and income spread in Evangeline Parish
- The Evangeline Parish job picture
- Counties near Evangeline Parish
- Evangeline Parish towns compared
- Evangeline Parish households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Evangeline Parish
- Room for a loan payment in Evangeline Parish
- Steps before you apply in Evangeline Parish
- Louisiana rules that apply in Evangeline Parish
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Evangeline Parish at a glance
Roughly 32,060 residents live in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana, 32nd by population among the state's 64 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 662 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 48 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Evangeline Parish is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 6 Census places inside Evangeline Parish, Ville Platte leads by population with about 6,253; 5 of the 6 are incorporated.
Housing costs in Evangeline Parish
Renters in Evangeline Parish pay a median of $681 a month, 36% below the Louisiana figure of $1,064. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 53% of renter households here. With a median value of $124,600, a typical Evangeline Parish house costs 3.0 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 66% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1980.
| Home costs | Evangeline Parish | Louisiana | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $681/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $124,600 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 53% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 40% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 14.8% | 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.
Paychecks and income spread in Evangeline Parish
Evangeline Parish households have a median income of $41,915 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 54th of 64 in Louisiana.
| Income band | Share in Evangeline Parish | Difference from Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 44.3% | +13.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.0% | -3.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.2% | -5.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.5% | -4.3 pts |
Some 44% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 20% have six-figure incomes. 24.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 18.9%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.482 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
The Evangeline Parish job picture
The biggest employer of Evangeline Parish residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by retail trade (12%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 9% of workers here, versus 3% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Evangeline Parish averages 9.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.3%). About 82% drive to work alone and 23% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Evangeline Parish workers | vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.2% | +1.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.0% | +0.9 pts |
| Construction | 10.3% | +1.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 8.6% | +5.6 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.3% | +2.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.2% | +0.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Counties near Evangeline Parish
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Evangeline Parish's, from 25 to 40 miles away. Jefferson Davis Parish leads the group on income ($57,341), Avoyelles Parish trails ($39,325), and Evangeline Parish out-earns 1 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evangeline Parish | - | $41,915 | $681/mo | 66% |
| Allen Parish, LA | 25 mi | $46,469 | $775/mo | 74% |
| St. Landry Parish, LA | 26 mi | $44,462 | $748/mo | 70% |
| Acadia Parish, LA | 30 mi | $45,562 | $681/mo | 67% |
| Rapides Parish, LA | 34 mi | $54,967 | $950/mo | 65% |
| Avoyelles Parish, LA | 36 mi | $39,325 | $757/mo | 70% |
| Jefferson Davis Parish, LA | 40 mi | $57,341 | $848/mo | 77% |
Evangeline Parish towns compared
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Evangeline Parish, by population. Together all 6 hold about 11,520 people, so roughly 64% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $24,808 in Mamou to $33,352 in Pine Prairie. Rent is cheapest in Mamou ($521) and steepest in Reddell ($996). None of the 6 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ville Platte | city | 6,253 | $28,361 | $656 | 8 mi |
| Mamou | town | 2,864 | $24,808 | $521 | 6 mi |
| Pine Prairie | village | 934 | $33,352 | $758 | 4 mi |
| Reddell | CDP | 653 | n/a | $996 | 4 mi |
| Turkey Creek | village | 449 | $75,250 | $929 | 11 mi |
| Chataignier | village | 367 | $32,898 | $770 | 12 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Evangeline Parish households compared
14% of Evangeline Parish adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 8.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Evangeline Parish | Louisiana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.2 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.7% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 23.2% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.5% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 11.6% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 24.3% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.8% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 31.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.1% |
| 60+ min | 16.3% |
Local borrowing considerations for Evangeline Parish
A few patterns in the Evangeline Parish data, and the practical point behind each:
- Keeping the car running. At 23% with long commutes, repairs are a frequent Evangeline Parish emergency; first decide if the car is worth fixing.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 15% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- 24% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- 53% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Room for a loan payment in Evangeline Parish
How much room does a median Evangeline Parish budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $3,493 a month: gross income for a household at the Evangeline Parish median
- Median rent: $681, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- At 36%, room after rent is $576 a month
- With a 43% ceiling, about $821 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $681, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Steps before you apply in Evangeline Parish
Quick steps for Evangeline Parish:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Louisiana.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Louisiana rules that apply in Evangeline Parish
Consumer lenders serving Evangeline Parish are licensed by the state, not the county; in Louisiana that is the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Louisiana state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Louisiana guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Evangeline Parish household make?
About $41,915 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 31% below the Louisiana median.
Is Evangeline Parish expensive for renters?
Median rent is $681 against $1,064 statewide, and 53% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Evangeline Parish?
By population: Ville Platte, Mamou, Pine Prairie, Reddell, Turkey Creek. The county has 6 Census places in all.
Can Evangeline 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 regulates personal lenders for Evangeline 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.