1st Advantage MortgageIberia Parish households have a median income of $56,961 and median rent of $897 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
- Iberia Parish, LA: the basics
- Employment and commuting in Iberia Parish
- How much Iberia Parish households make
- Iberia Parish housing compared with Louisiana
- Regional comparison for Iberia Parish
- The communities that make up Iberia Parish
- Debt-to-income at Iberia Parish's medians
- Iberia Parish households compared
- Local borrowing considerations for Iberia Parish
- Four steps for Iberia Parish borrowers
- Lender oversight for Iberia Parish
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Iberia Parish, LA: the basics
Roughly 68,599 residents live in Iberia Parish, Louisiana, 17th by population among the state's 64 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 575 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 119 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 4 Census places inside Iberia Parish, New Iberia leads by population with about 27,571; 3 of the 4 are incorporated.
Employment and commuting in Iberia Parish
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. Compared with Louisiana, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (11% against 3%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 7.3% in Iberia Parish. About 82% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 12.0% of the total (8.4% statewide).
| Where residents work | Iberia Parish | Difference from Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.3% | -4.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.7% | +0.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 11.0% | +7.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.5% | +0.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.4% | +1.9 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.9% | -1.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How much Iberia Parish households make
At $56,961, the typical Iberia Parish household income is 13% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 26th among Louisiana's 64 county-level areas.
| Household income | Iberia Parish | vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.3% | +3.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.3% | +0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.3% | -1.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.0% | -2.8 pts |
About 34% of households earn under $35,000, while 25% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 22.8%, 4 points higher than the state's 18.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.494 here. None of these numbers decides a Iberia Parish application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Iberia Parish housing compared with Louisiana
Renters in Iberia Parish pay a median of $897 a month, 16% below the Louisiana figure of $1,064. By the Census definition, 50% of Iberia Parish renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $164,500, or 2.9 years of median income. Owners occupy 67% of homes.
| Home costs | Iberia Parish | Louisiana | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $897/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $164,500 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 50% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.6% | 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.
Regional comparison for Iberia Parish
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (23 to 54 miles). Income ranges from $51,423 in Assumption Parish to $67,451 in Lafayette Parish; 1 of these neighbors top Iberia Parish's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iberia Parish | - | $56,961 | $897/mo | 67% |
| St. Mary Parish, LA | 23 mi | $52,576 | $848/mo | 69% |
| Vermilion Parish, LA | 32 mi | $55,707 | $848/mo | 73% |
| St. Martin Parish, LA | 38 mi | $55,960 | $870/mo | 78% |
| Lafayette Parish, LA | 44 mi | $67,451 | $1,057/mo | 65% |
| Assumption Parish, LA | 51 mi | $51,423 | $810/mo | 85% |
| Iberville Parish, LA | 54 mi | $54,000 | $827/mo | 75% |
The communities that make up Iberia Parish
4 Census places fall mainly inside Iberia Parish; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 33,772 residents, leaving about 51% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $93,229 at the median in Lydia, $32,292 in Loreauville. Rent is cheapest in Jeanerette ($779) and steepest in New Iberia ($894). No Iberia Parish place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Iberia | city | 27,571 | $47,087 | $894 | 28 mi |
| Jeanerette | city | 4,655 | $43,438 | $779 | 24 mi |
| Loreauville | village | 833 | $32,292 | $854 | 32 mi |
| Lydia | CDP | 713 | $93,229 | n/a | 22 mi |
Debt-to-income at Iberia Parish's medians
How much room does a median Iberia Parish budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Iberia Parish: $4,747
- Median rent: $897, or 19 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 35% ceiling, about $764 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- Under a 45% cap, $2,136 total minus rent leaves $1,239
If your rent is above $897, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Iberia Parish households compared
15% of Iberia Parish adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 6.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Iberia Parish | Louisiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.8% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.0% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.6% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 12.0% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.3% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.8% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.3% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Iberia Parish workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.7% |
| 60+ min | 6.8% |
Local borrowing considerations for Iberia Parish
A few patterns in the Iberia Parish data, and the practical point behind each:
- Manufactured homes. 19% of Iberia Parish housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Free help first. 23% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Renters under pressure. When 50% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Four steps for Iberia Parish borrowers
Steps that save money for Iberia Parish residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Louisiana borrowers.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Lender oversight for Iberia Parish
Consumer lenders serving Iberia Parish are licensed by the state, not the county; in Louisiana that is the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Louisiana state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Louisiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Iberia Parish a high-income county?
Its $56,961 median ranks 26th of 64 Louisiana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Iberia Parish expensive for renters?
Median rent is $897 against $1,064 statewide, and 50% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Iberia Parish town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers New Iberia, Jeanerette, Loreauville, Lydia.
Will a Iberia Parish address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Louisiana as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Iberia Parish office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Louisiana it is the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions.