1st Advantage MortgageThe median Richland Parish household earns $53,544, and 24% of residents live below the poverty line. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Louisiana license first.
On this page
- A quick profile of Richland Parish
- What it costs to live in Richland Parish
- Household income in Richland Parish
- The Richland Parish job picture
- Richland Parish towns compared
- Richland Parish and the counties next door
- Budget math at the Richland Parish median
- More Richland Parish figures
- What the numbers mean for Richland Parish borrowers
- A Richland Parish borrower's checklist
- Louisiana rules that apply in Richland Parish
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Richland Parish
With an estimated 19,822 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Richland Parish ranks 45th of 64 in Louisiana for population. It covers 556 square miles of land, or about 36 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Monroe, LA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 4 Census places inside Richland Parish, Rayville leads by population with about 3,261; 3 of the 4 are incorporated.
What it costs to live in Richland Parish
A typical Richland Parish rental runs $903 a month including utilities, which is 15% below Louisiana. 49% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 27% spend half or more. Home values center on $141,900, or 2.7 years of median income. 67% of Richland Parish households own their home and 33% rent. The median home was built in 1979, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Richland Parish | Louisiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $903/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $141,900 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 24.1% | 12.6% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 17% | 14% | n/a |
Household income in Richland Parish
Half of Richland Parish households take in less than $53,544 a year and half take in more, 12% below the Louisiana median of $60,756.
| Household income | Richland Parish | vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.4% | +4.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.1% | -0.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.6% | -2.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.9% | -1.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 25% of Richland Parish households make $100,000 or more, and 35% make less than $35,000. Census counts 24.0% of Richland Parish residents in poverty, against 18.9% across Louisiana. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.487 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
The Richland Parish job picture
By the Census industry count, 25% of employed Richland Parish residents work in education and health care and 12% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 7% locally and 3% for Louisiana. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 8.9% in Richland Parish. Long commutes are common here: 18% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Richland Parish workers | vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.0% | -0.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.2% | +1.1 pts |
| Construction | 9.0% | +0.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.7% | +1.1 pts |
| Public administration | 7.2% | +1.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 6.8% | +3.7 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Richland Parish towns compared
Here are the 4 most populous of the county's 4 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 37% of Richland Parish residents live in one of the 4. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $27,273 in Rayville to $110,278 in Start. Rent is cheapest in Mangham ($636) and steepest in Rayville ($907). No Richland Parish place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rayville | town | 3,261 | $27,273 | $907 | 4 mi |
| Delhi | town | 2,573 | $52,132 | $897 | 15 mi |
| Start | CDP | 852 | $110,278 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Mangham | town | 638 | $42,763 | $636 | 7 mi |
Richland Parish and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (19 to 31 miles). Ouachita Parish leads the group on income ($54,688), Madison Parish trails ($35,456), and Richland Parish out-earns 5 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richland Parish | - | $53,544 | $903/mo | 67% |
| Franklin Parish, LA | 19 mi | $47,020 | $721/mo | 73% |
| Ouachita Parish, LA | 24 mi | $54,688 | $959/mo | 61% |
| Morehouse Parish, LA | 28 mi | $39,454 | $839/mo | 69% |
| Caldwell Parish, LA | 30 mi | $47,028 | $830/mo | 69% |
| Madison Parish, LA | 30 mi | $35,456 | $649/mo | 53% |
| West Carroll Parish, LA | 31 mi | $49,134 | $740/mo | 76% |
Budget math at the Richland Parish median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Richland Parish's medians:
- $4,462 a month: gross income for a household at the Richland Parish median
- Housing at the median rent of $903 uses 20%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $703 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
More Richland Parish figures
18% of Richland Parish adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 6.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Richland Parish | All of Louisiana | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.6% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.5% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.8% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.7% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 24.0% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.9% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 26.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.0% |
| 60+ min | 7.5% |
What the numbers mean for Richland Parish borrowers
A few patterns in the Richland Parish data, and the practical point behind each:
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 24% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Free help first. 24% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Tight rental budgets. With 49% of Richland Parish renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
A Richland Parish borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Louisiana license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Louisiana rules that apply in Richland Parish
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Richland Parish borrowers answers to the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Louisiana state guide for the statewide picture.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Louisiana guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Richland Parish household make?
About $53,544 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 12% below the Louisiana median.
How does Richland Parish rent compare with Louisiana?
$903 locally versus $1,064 for the state, 15% below.
Which towns does the Richland Parish guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 4 Census places: Rayville, Delhi, Start, Mangham.
Are Richland 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.
Where can someone in Richland 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.