1st Advantage MortgageThe median Ouachita Parish household earns $54,688, and 23% 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
- Ouachita Parish at a glance
- Household income in Ouachita Parish
- Employment and commuting in Ouachita Parish
- Ouachita Parish housing compared with Louisiana
- Counties near Ouachita Parish
- Ouachita Parish towns compared
- Room for a loan payment in Ouachita Parish
- More Ouachita Parish figures
- Before borrowing in Ouachita Parish
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Louisiana
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Ouachita Parish at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Ouachita Parish's population at 158,480; only 7 of Louisiana's 64 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 610 square miles, that is close to 260 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Monroe, LA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Monroe is the biggest of its 10 Census places, at roughly 47,004 people (30% of the county total).
Household income in Ouachita Parish
At $54,688, the typical Ouachita Parish household income is 17% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 32nd among Louisiana's 64 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Ouachita Parish | Difference from Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.6% | +4.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 37.8% | -1.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.7% | -2.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.9% | -0.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of Ouachita Parish households make $100,000 or more, and 36% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 23.2%, 4 points higher than the state's 18.9%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.518 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Ouachita Parish
By the Census industry count, 30% of employed Ouachita Parish residents work in education and health care and 11% in retail trade. Compared with Louisiana, the county leans toward education and health care (30% against 26%). The survey's unemployment rate for Ouachita Parish averages 6.5% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.3%). 10% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home.
| Industry | Share of Ouachita Parish workers | vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.8% | +4.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.1% | 0.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.8% | -0.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.7% | -1.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.4% | -0.1 pts |
| Construction | 6.7% | -1.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Ouachita Parish housing compared with Louisiana
A typical Ouachita Parish rental runs $959 a month including utilities, which is 10% below Louisiana. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 58% of renter households here. Home values center on $194,400, or 3.6 years of median income. 61% of Ouachita Parish households own their home and 39% rent.
| Measure | Ouachita Parish | Louisiana | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $959/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $194,400 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 61% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 58% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 14.4% | 12.6% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Counties near Ouachita Parish
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 31 miles). None of the six report a higher median household income than Ouachita Parish; Richland Parish is highest at $53,544 and Lincoln Parish lowest at $39,172.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ouachita Parish | - | $54,688 | $959/mo | 61% |
| Richland Parish, LA | 24 mi | $53,544 | $903/mo | 67% |
| Caldwell Parish, LA | 26 mi | $47,028 | $830/mo | 69% |
| Jackson Parish, LA | 27 mi | $44,925 | $736/mo | 70% |
| Union Parish, LA | 27 mi | $42,885 | $778/mo | 78% |
| Lincoln Parish, LA | 31 mi | $39,172 | $825/mo | 54% |
| Morehouse Parish, LA | 31 mi | $39,454 | $839/mo | 69% |
Ouachita Parish towns compared
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 59% of Ouachita Parish residents live in one of the 10. Claiborne has the highest median household income on the list ($72,420) and Bawcomville the lowest ($24,929), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Ouachita Parish place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 10.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe | city | 47,004 | $40,505 | $886 | 5 mi |
| Claiborne | CDP | 13,308 | $72,420 | $1,206 | 5 mi |
| West Monroe | city | 12,729 | $49,386 | $826 | 2 mi |
| Brownsville | CDP | 4,357 | $35,526 | $857 | 1 mi |
| Swartz | CDP | 4,110 | $67,287 | $1,150 | 12 mi |
| Richwood | town | 3,839 | $31,680 | $978 | 5 mi |
| Lakeshore | CDP | 3,437 | $48,214 | $1,061 | 8 mi |
| Bawcomville | CDP | 2,804 | $24,929 | $945 | 2 mi |
| Sterlington | town | 2,229 | $69,007 | $1,078 | 15 mi |
| Calhoun | CDP | 420 | $138,372 | n/a | 12 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Room for a loan payment in Ouachita Parish
Here is the Ouachita Parish median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $54,688 a year is $4,557 of gross monthly income
- 21% goes to median rent ($959)
- $636: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- Under a 45% cap, $2,051 total minus rent leaves $1,092
Two-income households and single earners in Ouachita Parish land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
More Ouachita Parish figures
29% of Ouachita Parish adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 7% go without health insurance.
| Measure | Ouachita Parish | Louisiana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.6 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.6% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 11.6% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.4% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.6% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 23.2% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.5% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Ouachita Parish workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 33.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 44.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.9% |
| 60+ min | 6.3% |
Before borrowing in Ouachita Parish
A few patterns in the Ouachita Parish data, and the practical point behind each:
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 14% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 23% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Tight rental budgets. With 58% of Ouachita Parish renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Ouachita Parish residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Checking a lender's license in Louisiana
Before sharing details with a lender, a Ouachita Parish resident can confirm its license with 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
The Louisiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Ouachita Parish household make?
About $54,688 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 10% below the Louisiana median.
How much is rent in Ouachita Parish?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $959 a month; 58% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Ouachita Parish?
By population: Monroe, Claiborne, West Monroe, Brownsville, Swartz. The county has 10 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Ouachita Parish?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Where can someone in Ouachita Parish check a lender's license?
With the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. If a lender is unlicensed or asks for a fee before funding, walk away.