1st Advantage MortgageThe median Lafourche Parish household earns $63,135, and 17% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Lafourche Parish at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Lafourche Parish
- Lafourche Parish housing compared with Louisiana
- Work, industries and travel time in Lafourche Parish
- The communities that make up Lafourche Parish
- The counties around Lafourche Parish
- What a median Lafourche Parish budget can carry
- Lafourche Parish households compared
- What the numbers mean for Lafourche Parish borrowers
- Four steps for Lafourche Parish borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for Lafourche Parish
- More guides for Lafourche Parish
- Frequently asked questions
Lafourche Parish at a glance
With an estimated 96,252 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Lafourche Parish ranks 15th of 64 in Louisiana for population. Packed into 1,068 square miles, that is close to 90 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Thibodaux is the biggest of its 15 Census places, at roughly 15,732 people (16% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in Lafourche Parish
The median household income in Lafourche Parish is $63,135; statewide it is $60,756, so Lafourche Parish runs 4% above Louisiana as a whole. Only 20 Louisiana counties post a higher median.
| Household income | Lafourche Parish | vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 28.3% | -2.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.5% | +0.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.3% | +3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.9% | -0.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 32% of Lafourche Parish households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 17.0%, 2 points lower than the state's 18.9%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.462 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Lafourche Parish median.
Lafourche Parish housing compared with Louisiana
Renters in Lafourche Parish pay a median of $928 a month, 13% below the Louisiana figure of $1,064. 56% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 35% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $193,900, about 3.1 times the median household income. Owners occupy 80% of homes.
| Cost | Lafourche Parish | Louisiana figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $928/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $193,900 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.7% | 12.6% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Work, industries and travel time in Lafourche Parish
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 11%. Compared with Louisiana, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (6% against 3%). The survey's unemployment rate for Lafourche Parish averages 4.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.3%). 20% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. 6.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Lafourche Parish | Difference from Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.3% | -1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.0% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 9.6% | +1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.4% | -0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.4% | -0.9 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.9% | +0.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
The communities that make up Lafourche Parish
15 Census places fall mainly inside Lafourche Parish; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 72,961 residents, leaving about 24% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $49,918 in Galliano to $125,654 in Lockport Heights. This guide covers each of the 15 places and the rural areas around them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thibodaux | city | 15,732 | $52,072 | $960 | 33 mi |
| Bayou Blue | CDP | 12,218 | $63,958 | $1,107 | 19 mi |
| Raceland | CDP | 9,585 | $60,286 | $629 | 21 mi |
| Galliano | CDP | 5,906 | $49,918 | $849 | 6 mi |
| Larose | CDP | 5,515 | $80,577 | $760 | 5 mi |
| Chackbay | CDP | 5,436 | $65,968 | $1,036 | 35 mi |
| Cut Off | CDP | 5,398 | $67,941 | $828 | 4 mi |
| Lafourche Crossing | CDP | 2,790 | $73,309 | $1,591 | 29 mi |
| Lockport | town | 2,618 | $60,398 | $958 | 13 mi |
| Golden Meadow | town | 1,854 | $71,875 | $693 | 10 mi |
| Mathews | CDP | 1,598 | $86,607 | $1,031 | 16 mi |
| Bayou Country Club | CDP | 1,497 | $111,696 | n/a | 31 mi |
| Lockport Heights | CDP | 1,481 | $125,654 | $1,036 | 15 mi |
| Kraemer | CDP | 1,065 | $51,935 | n/a | 29 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
The counties around Lafourche Parish
Distances run center to center, from Jefferson Parish at 22 miles out to Orleans Parish at 48. Income ranges from $56,631 in Orleans Parish to $80,897 in St. Charles Parish; 5 of these neighbors top Lafourche Parish's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafourche Parish | - | $63,135 | $928/mo | 80% |
| Jefferson Parish, LA | 22 mi | $65,252 | $1,190/mo | 63% |
| St. Charles Parish, LA | 29 mi | $80,897 | $1,210/mo | 82% |
| Terrebonne Parish, LA | 29 mi | $64,836 | $1,065/mo | 75% |
| St. James Parish, LA | 44 mi | $65,531 | $903/mo | 84% |
| St. John the Baptist Parish, LA | 45 mi | $66,630 | $1,334/mo | 77% |
| Orleans Parish, LA | 48 mi | $56,631 | $1,251/mo | 51% |
What a median Lafourche Parish budget can carry
How much room does a median Lafourche 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, Lafourche Parish: $5,261
- 18% goes to median rent ($928)
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,334 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.
Lafourche Parish households compared
College graduates make up 21% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 5.7%, against 7.8% for Louisiana.
| Lafourche Parish | Louisiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.4 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.1% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.5% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.7% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.9% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.8% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.0% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 32.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.2% |
| 60+ min | 11.0% |
What the numbers mean for Lafourche Parish borrowers
What the Lafourche Parish figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Vehicle repairs. 20% of Lafourche Parish workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- 17% 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 56% of Lafourche Parish renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Four steps for Lafourche Parish borrowers
Quick steps for Lafourche Parish:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Lafourche Parish.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Licensing and complaints for Lafourche Parish
Consumer lenders serving Lafourche Parish are licensed by the state, not the county; in Louisiana that is the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. See the Louisiana state guide for the statewide picture.
More guides for Lafourche Parish
The Louisiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Lafourche Parish?
$63,135 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $60,756 for Louisiana. It ranks 21st of 64 in the state.
What do renters pay in Lafourche Parish?
$928 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
I own my home in Lafourche Parish. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 80% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the Lafourche Parish guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 15 Census places: Thibodaux, Bayou Blue, Raceland, Galliano, Larose.
Will a Lafourche Parish address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Louisiana as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.