1st Advantage MortgageAbout 65% of Rapides Parish homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $54,967. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Getting oriented in Rapides Parish
- Household income in Rapides Parish
- Rapides Parish housing compared with Louisiana
- The Rapides Parish job picture
- Rapides Parish and the counties next door
- Rapides Parish towns compared
- Budget math at the Rapides Parish median
- Reading the Rapides Parish data as a borrower
- People and households in Rapides Parish
- Louisiana rules that apply in Rapides Parish
- Four steps for Rapides Parish borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Rapides Parish
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Rapides Parish's population at 127,527; only 12 of Louisiana's 64 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 1,324 square miles, that is close to 96 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the Alexandria, LA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 12 Census places inside Rapides Parish, Alexandria leads by population with about 44,060; 10 of the 12 are incorporated.
Household income in Rapides Parish
Rapides Parish households have a median income of $54,967 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 31st of 64 in Louisiana.
| Household income | Rapides Parish | vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.4% | +2.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.4% | +0.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.9% | -1.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.3% | -1.5 pts |
Some 33% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 27% have six-figure incomes. 19.9% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 18.9%). None of these numbers decides a Rapides Parish application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Rapides Parish housing compared with Louisiana
Renters in Rapides Parish pay a median of $950 a month, 11% below the Louisiana figure of $1,064. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 54% of renter households here. With a median value of $181,100, a typical Rapides Parish house costs 3.3 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 65%.
| Cost | Rapides Parish | Louisiana figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $950/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $181,100 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 65% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 14.7% | 12.6% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
The Rapides Parish job picture
The biggest employer of Rapides Parish residents, by industry, is education and health care at 30% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in education and health care, at 30% locally and 26% for Louisiana. The survey's unemployment rate for Rapides Parish averages 5.1% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.3%). About 80% drive to work alone and 10% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 9.4% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Rapides Parish share | +/- vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.2% | +4.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.3% | +2.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.0% | +0.8 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.9% | -1.9 pts |
| Public administration | 7.4% | +1.9 pts |
| Construction | 6.9% | -1.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Rapides Parish should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Rapides Parish and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (28 to 41 miles). LaSalle Parish leads the group on income ($68,497), Avoyelles Parish trails ($39,325), and Rapides Parish out-earns 3 of the six.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapides Parish | - | $54,967 | $950/mo | 65% |
| Grant Parish, LA | 28 mi | $64,016 | $904/mo | 79% |
| Avoyelles Parish, LA | 33 mi | $39,325 | $757/mo | 70% |
| Evangeline Parish, LA | 34 mi | $41,915 | $681/mo | 66% |
| Vernon Parish, LA | 39 mi | $57,270 | $1,068/mo | 56% |
| LaSalle Parish, LA | 40 mi | $68,497 | $657/mo | 81% |
| Allen Parish, LA | 41 mi | $46,469 | $775/mo | 74% |
Rapides Parish towns compared
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Rapides Parish, by population. Together all 12 hold about 71,092 people, so roughly 44% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $17,132 in Cheneyville to $127,965 in Echo. Rent is cheapest in Boyce ($620) and steepest in Ball ($1,337). Live in one of these Rapides Parish communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | city | 44,060 | $47,113 | $931 | 8 mi |
| Pineville | city | 14,160 | $49,774 | $910 | 13 mi |
| Ball | town | 3,869 | $80,074 | $1,337 | 17 mi |
| Woodworth | town | 2,432 | $84,500 | $900 | 2 mi |
| Deville | CDP | 1,572 | n/a | $1,125 | 26 mi |
| Glenmora | town | 1,284 | $31,839 | $680 | 15 mi |
| Boyce | town | 1,037 | $37,895 | $620 | 16 mi |
| Forest Hill | village | 727 | $115,938 | $1,163 | 10 mi |
| Lecompte | town | 592 | $35,357 | $661 | 11 mi |
| Cheneyville | town | 559 | $17,132 | $856 | 19 mi |
| Echo | CDP | 552 | $127,965 | n/a | 18 mi |
| McNary | village | 248 | $57,500 | n/a | 14 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Budget math at the Rapides Parish median
How much room does a median Rapides 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, Rapides Parish: $4,581
- Less median rent of $950, which is 21% of it
- Under a 40% cap, $1,832 total minus rent leaves $882
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Reading the Rapides Parish data as a borrower
Based on the Rapides Parish data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- 15% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- 20% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Renters under pressure. When 54% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
People and households in Rapides Parish
College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. 8.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Rapides Parish | Louisiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.9 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.1% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.1% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.1% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.4% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 19.9% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.1% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Rapides Parish |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 38.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.4% |
| 60+ min | 6.1% |
Louisiana rules that apply in Rapides Parish
Consumer lenders serving Rapides Parish are licensed by the state, not the county; in Louisiana that is the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. The Louisiana guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Rapides Parish borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Louisiana borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Louisiana guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Rapides Parish?
$54,967 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $60,756 for Louisiana. It ranks 31st of 64 in the state.
Is Rapides Parish expensive for renters?
Median rent is $950 against $1,064 statewide, and 54% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I live in a small Rapides Parish town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Alexandria, Pineville, Ball, Woodworth, Deville and 7 more.
Are Rapides Parish applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Rapides Parish?
Start with the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.