1st Advantage MortgageThe median Red River Parish household earns $49,167, and 26% of residents live below the poverty line. For a Red River Parish borrower, the useful steps are the same anywhere: price the need, gather three written offers, and check the Louisiana license.
On this page
- Red River Parish at a glance
- Employment and commuting in Red River Parish
- Red River Parish's most unusual numbers
- Where Red River Parish households live
- Paychecks and income spread in Red River Parish
- Red River Parish and the counties next door
- The communities that make up Red River Parish
- Reading the Red River Parish data as a borrower
- Debt-to-income at Red River Parish's medians
- Red River Parish demographics against Louisiana
- Louisiana rules that apply in Red River Parish
- Checklist for Red River Parish applicants
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Red River Parish at a glance
Roughly 7,443 residents live in Red River Parish, Louisiana, 61st by population among the state's 64 counties and county equivalents. It covers 389 square miles of land, or about 19 people per square mile. Metro status: none; Red River Parish sits outside the 2023 OMB metro areas. The Census Bureau counts 4 places in the county (4 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Coushatta, with about 1,938 residents, or 26% of the county. Because Red River Parish is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Employment and commuting in Red River Parish
Top Red River Parish industry by residents employed: education and health care, 28%; second, arts, lodging and food service, 11%. Relative to Louisiana (3%), agriculture, forestry and mining is 7 points bigger in Red River Parish (10%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 90% drive to work alone and 26% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 8.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Red River Parish | Gap to Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.0% | +2.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.3% | +2.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.4% | +2.9 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.4% | +7.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.6% | -1.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.0% | -1.9 pts |
Where long drives are the norm, a car repair is one of the most common surprise bills. A small repair fund can keep a breakdown from turning into a loan.
Red River Parish's most unusual numbers
Where Red River Parish lands at the extremes of Louisiana's county rankings:
- On the ACS unemployment rate, Red River Parish sits near the bottom of Louisiana at 3.6%, 2nd lowest of 64. Low unemployment does not lower your rate; your credit does.
- Red River Parish ranks 4th lowest of 64 Louisiana counties for population: 7,443, against 4,611,961 statewide. With few local branches, online lenders and statewide credit unions widen the choice.
- Red River Parish ranks 5th highest of 64 Louisiana counties for the share of mobile homes: 34.6%, against 12.6% statewide. Repairs on manufactured homes are a common loan purpose; get written quotes.
Where Red River Parish households live
A typical Red River Parish rental runs $729 a month including utilities, which is 31% below Louisiana. By the Census definition, 55% of Red River Parish renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $119,700, about 2.4 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 77%. The median year built is 1981.
| Measure | Red River Parish | Louisiana | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile homes | 34.6% | 12.6% | +22.1 pts |
| Owners | 77% | 67% | +9.9 pts |
| Burdened owners | 36% | 28% | +8.3 pts |
| Median home value | $119,700 | $216,500 | 45% lower |
| Median gross rent | $729/mo | $1,064/mo | 31% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 55% | +0.2 pts |
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). When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Paychecks and income spread in Red River Parish
Half of Red River Parish households take in less than $49,167 a year and half take in more, 19% below the Louisiana median of $60,756. Only 39 Louisiana counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Red River Parish | +/- vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 36.5% | +5.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.7% | -0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.2% | -0.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.6% | -4.2 pts |
Six-figure households (25%) are outnumbered by those under $35,000 (36%) in Red River Parish. Poverty rate, Red River Parish: 25.8%; Louisiana: 18.9%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.471 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $49,167 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Red River Parish and the counties next door
De Soto Parish is closest, 23 miles from center to center; the sixth, Webster Parish, is 44 miles off. Income ranges from $35,011 in Bienville Parish to $50,329 in Sabine Parish; 1 of these neighbors top Red River Parish's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red River Parish | - | $49,167 | $729/mo | 77% |
| De Soto Parish, LA | 23 mi | $48,578 | $687/mo | 77% |
| Bienville Parish, LA | 24 mi | $35,011 | $606/mo | 70% |
| Natchitoches Parish, LA | 30 mi | $46,292 | $786/mo | 61% |
| Sabine Parish, LA | 39 mi | $50,329 | $701/mo | 80% |
| Winn Parish, LA | 43 mi | $48,871 | $774/mo | 71% |
| Webster Parish, LA | 44 mi | $41,182 | $795/mo | 67% |
The communities that make up Red River Parish
Places, by size: the top 4 of 4. Roughly 59% of Red River Parish lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. No Red River Parish place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coushatta | town | 1,938 | $31,250 | $474 | 5 mi |
| Martin | village | 667 | $58,351 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Hall Summit | village | 222 | n/a | $910 | 6 mi |
| Edgefield | village | 203 | $53,125 | n/a | 4 mi |
Reading the Red River Parish data as a borrower
A few patterns in the Red River Parish data, and the practical point behind each:
- 26% long commutes. A Red River Parish repair bill is often urgent; compare the shop's financing with a loan in writing.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 35% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Help that costs nothing. About 1,918 Red River Parish residents live in poverty; see free options before a loan.
- Renters under pressure. When 55% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Debt-to-income at Red River Parish's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Red River Parish's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,097 before taxes
- 18% goes to median rent ($729)
- At 35%, room after rent is $705 a month
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,115 a month
Homeowners in Red River Parish should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
Red River Parish demographics against Louisiana
Bachelor's degree or higher: 14% of Red River Parish adults. Health coverage gaps: 8.1% of Red River Parish residents are uninsured.
| Measure | Red River Parish | Gap to Louisiana | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.8 | +3.8 yrs | +0.3 yrs |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.0% | -13.0 pts | -8.2 pts |
| No high school diploma | 17.5% | +4.8 pts | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.1% | +0.2 pts | +0.2 pts |
| No vehicle | 8.0% | -0.4 pts | +2.6 pts |
| Work from home | 3.2% | -4.9 pts | -5.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 25.8% | +6.8 pts | +12.6 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.6% | -2.6 pts | -0.8 pts |
| Commute length | Red River Parish |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 33.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 15.9% |
| 60+ min | 10.2% |
Louisiana rules that apply in Red River Parish
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Red River Parish borrowers answers to the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. Nationally, Red River Parish residents can file with the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Louisiana guide.
Checklist for Red River Parish applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Red River Parish.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Louisiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Red River Parish earn?
The median is $49,167; 25% earn $100,000 or more and 36% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Can a Red River Parish renter afford a loan payment?
At the $729 median rent and $4,097 median monthly income, rent alone uses 18%; add other debts before a new payment.
How many towns are in Red River Parish?
The Census Bureau counts 4 places mainly in the county, led by Coushatta, Martin, Hall Summit, Edgefield.
Is the fit check different in Red River Parish?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Red River 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.