1st Advantage MortgageThe median Jefferson Parish household earns $65,252, and 17% of residents live below the poverty line. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Louisiana before sharing details.
On this page
- A quick profile of Jefferson Parish
- Jobs and commutes in Jefferson Parish
- What Jefferson Parish households earn
- Jefferson Parish housing compared with Louisiana
- Places inside Jefferson Parish
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- More Jefferson Parish figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Jefferson Parish
- Budget math at the Jefferson Parish median
- Four steps for Jefferson Parish borrowers
- Lender oversight for Jefferson Parish
- More guides for Jefferson Parish
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Jefferson Parish
With an estimated 430,920 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Jefferson Parish ranks 2nd of 64 in Louisiana for population. Packed into 301 square miles, that is close to 1,432 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Metairie is the biggest of its 21 Census places, at roughly 139,729 people (32% of the county total).
Jobs and commutes in Jefferson Parish
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 12%. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.2% in Jefferson Parish. 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Jefferson Parish | Gap to Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.9% | -2.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.8% | +1.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.8% | +1.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -0.4 pts |
| Construction | 10.1% | +1.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.6% | +0.7 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
What Jefferson Parish households earn
Half of Jefferson Parish households take in less than $65,252 a year and half take in more, 7% above the Louisiana median of $60,756. That places it 18th among Louisiana's 64 county-level areas.
| Households earning | Jefferson Parish | +/- vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.9% | -2.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.5% | +1.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.9% | +0.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 8.6% | +0.8 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 32% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 16.6%, 2 points lower than the state's 18.9%. None of these numbers decides a Jefferson Parish application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jefferson Parish housing compared with Louisiana
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,190 in Jefferson Parish versus $1,064 statewide. By the Census definition, 54% of Jefferson Parish renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $251,400, a typical Jefferson Parish house costs 3.9 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 63% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1975.
| Home costs | Jefferson Parish | Louisiana | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,190/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $251,400 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 63% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.8% | 12.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 9% | 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.
Places inside Jefferson Parish
The table lists the 14 largest of 21 Census places in Jefferson Parish, by population. Together all 21 hold about 412,796 people, so roughly 4% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $89,430 at the median in Elmwood, $41,402 in Marrero. Median rent ranges from $941 in Jean Lafitte to $1,602 in Elmwood. Linked names have their own city guide; this page covers every other Jefferson Parish community.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metairie | CDP | 139,729 | $73,042 | $1,175 | 35 mi |
| Kenner | city | 64,904 | $64,020 | $1,179 | 37 mi |
| Marrero | CDP | 32,540 | $41,402 | $1,042 | 27 mi |
| Terrytown | CDP | 24,726 | $51,718 | $1,135 | 28 mi |
| Harvey | CDP | 20,915 | $48,774 | $1,190 | 27 mi |
| Gretna | city | 17,389 | $43,110 | $1,060 | 28 mi |
| Estelle | CDP | 16,341 | $78,869 | $1,442 | 24 mi |
| River Ridge | CDP | 13,312 | $84,336 | $1,127 | 33 mi |
| Woodmere | CDP | 11,879 | $75,828 | $1,382 | 23 mi |
| Waggaman | CDP | 11,330 | $68,374 | $1,510 | 32 mi |
| Timberlane | CDP | 10,886 | $65,901 | $1,443 | 26 mi |
| Jefferson | CDP | 9,703 | $57,235 | $1,097 | 32 mi |
| Harahan | city | 8,904 | $79,516 | $1,082 | 32 mi |
| Westwego | city | 8,335 | $46,261 | $1,049 | 29 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Lafourche Parish at 22 miles out to St. John the Baptist Parish at 52. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Jefferson Parish; Plaquemines Parish is highest at $86,315 and Orleans Parish lowest at $56,631.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson Parish | - | $65,252 | $1,190/mo | 63% |
| Lafourche Parish, LA | 22 mi | $63,135 | $928/mo | 80% |
| Plaquemines Parish, LA | 32 mi | $86,315 | $1,573/mo | 76% |
| St. Charles Parish, LA | 34 mi | $80,897 | $1,210/mo | 82% |
| Orleans Parish, LA | 38 mi | $56,631 | $1,251/mo | 51% |
| Terrebonne Parish, LA | 50 mi | $64,836 | $1,065/mo | 75% |
| St. John the Baptist Parish, LA | 52 mi | $66,630 | $1,334/mo | 77% |
More Jefferson Parish figures
31% of Jefferson Parish adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 11.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Jefferson Parish | All of Louisiana | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.5% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.7% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 11.4% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.4% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.2% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.6% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.2% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Jefferson Parish workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 24.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 42.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.9% |
| 60+ min | 6.2% |
Local borrowing considerations for Jefferson Parish
Based on the Jefferson Parish data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Health costs. With 11% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- 54% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Jefferson Parish borrower sees (free reports).
Budget math at the Jefferson Parish median
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Jefferson Parish household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,438 before taxes
- Median rent: $1,190, or 22 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 36% ceiling, about $768 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Four steps for Jefferson Parish borrowers
Quick steps for Jefferson Parish:
- Price the Jefferson Parish expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Lender oversight for Jefferson Parish
Before sharing details with a lender, a Jefferson Parish resident can confirm its license with the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Louisiana guide.
More guides for Jefferson Parish
More local guides:
Frequently asked questions
Is Jefferson Parish a high-income county?
Its $65,252 median ranks 18th of 64 Louisiana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Jefferson Parish?
$1,190 a month at the median, about 22% of median household income.
Does this page cover Metairie?
Yes, along with the other 20 Census places in Jefferson Parish, such as Kenner, Marrero, Terrytown.
Is the fit check different in Jefferson Parish?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Jefferson 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.