1st Advantage MortgageIn Morehouse Parish, Louisiana, the typical household earns $39,454 a year and the typical rent is $839. 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
- Who lives in Morehouse Parish
- Work, industries and travel time in Morehouse Parish
- Income in Morehouse Parish compared with Louisiana
- Rent, home values and ownership in Morehouse Parish
- Morehouse Parish towns compared
- Morehouse Parish next to its neighbors
- A Morehouse Parish household budget, worked through
- Local borrowing considerations for Morehouse Parish
- Morehouse Parish residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before you sign
- Lender oversight for Morehouse Parish
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Morehouse Parish
With an estimated 24,551 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Morehouse Parish ranks 37th of 64 in Louisiana for population. Spread over 795 square miles, that works out to roughly 30.9 residents per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Monroe, LA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). The Census Bureau counts 5 places in the county (5 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Bastrop, with about 9,232 residents, or 38% of the county.
Work, industries and travel time in Morehouse Parish
The biggest employer of Morehouse Parish residents, by industry, is education and health care at 28% of workers, followed by manufacturing (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in manufacturing, at 13% locally and 8% for Louisiana. Averaged over the five survey years, 9.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 20% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 4% work from home. Households without a car make up 11.6% of the total (8.4% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Morehouse Parish workers | vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.4% | +2.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 13.5% | +5.9 pts |
| Construction | 9.4% | +1.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.4% | -1.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.7% | -3.1 pts |
| Public administration | 6.4% | +0.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Income in Morehouse Parish compared with Louisiana
The median household income in Morehouse Parish is $39,454; statewide it is $60,756, so Morehouse Parish runs 35% below Louisiana as a whole.
| Households earning | Morehouse Parish | +/- vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 41.9% | +11.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.4% | 0.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 15.9% | -6.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.8% | -5.0 pts |
Some 42% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 19% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 29.3%, 10 points higher than the state's 18.9%. For a borrower in Morehouse Parish, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Rent, home values and ownership in Morehouse Parish
Renters in Morehouse Parish pay a median of $839 a month, 21% below the Louisiana figure of $1,064. By the Census definition, 59% of Morehouse Parish renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $118,800, or 3.0 years of median income. Owners occupy 69% of homes. The median home was built in 1977, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Morehouse Parish | Louisiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $839/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $118,800 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 59% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.2% | 12.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 18% | 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.
Morehouse Parish towns compared
Here are the 5 most populous of the county's 5 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 42% of Morehouse Parish residents live in one of the 5. None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bastrop | city | 9,232 | $32,605 | $839 | 7 mi |
| Mer Rouge | village | 437 | $56,583 | $775 | 3 mi |
| Collinston | village | 347 | $46,250 | $290 | 10 mi |
| Bonita | village | 164 | $25,694 | $685 | 10 mi |
| Oak Ridge | village | 63 | $108,438 | n/a | 14 mi |
Morehouse Parish next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Morehouse Parish's, from 20 to 33 miles away. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Morehouse Parish; Ouachita Parish is highest at $54,688 and East Carroll Parish lowest at $33,341. Some neighbors are in Arkansas. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Morehouse Parish resident follows Louisiana rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morehouse Parish | - | $39,454 | $839/mo | 69% |
| West Carroll Parish, LA | 20 mi | $49,134 | $740/mo | 76% |
| Ashley County, AR | 26 mi | $44,266 | $703/mo | 71% |
| Richland Parish, LA | 28 mi | $53,544 | $903/mo | 67% |
| Ouachita Parish, LA | 31 mi | $54,688 | $959/mo | 61% |
| Union Parish, LA | 33 mi | $42,885 | $778/mo | 78% |
| East Carroll Parish, LA | 33 mi | $33,341 | $652/mo | 58% |
A Morehouse Parish household budget, worked through
Morehouse Parish at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $3,288 a month: gross income for a household at the Morehouse Parish median
- Less median rent of $839, which is 26% of it
- With a 40% ceiling, about $476 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in Morehouse Parish land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Local borrowing considerations for Morehouse Parish
Based on the Morehouse Parish data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Commuter costs. 20% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Mobile home upkeep. 18% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- 29% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Rent squeeze. 59% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Morehouse Parish residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 14% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 5.6%, against 7.8% for Louisiana.
| Measure | Morehouse Parish | Louisiana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.8% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.3% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.6% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 11.6% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 4.1% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 29.3% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.4% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.9% |
| 60+ min | 11.2% |
Before you sign
Quick steps for Morehouse Parish:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Morehouse Parish.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Verify the Louisiana license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Lender oversight for Morehouse Parish
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Morehouse Parish borrowers answers to the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Louisiana guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Louisiana guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Morehouse Parish household make?
About $39,454 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 35% below the Louisiana median.
What do renters pay in Morehouse Parish?
$839 a month at the median, about 26% of median household income.
Does this page cover Bastrop?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Morehouse Parish, such as Mer Rouge, Collinston, Bonita.
Can Morehouse 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 Morehouse Parish?
Start with the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.