1st Advantage MortgageAbout 70% of St. Bernard Parish homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $58,651. 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
- St. Bernard Parish, LA: the basics
- What it costs to live in St. Bernard Parish
- Household income in St. Bernard Parish
- How St. Bernard Parish residents earn a living
- The communities that make up St. Bernard Parish
- St. Bernard Parish and the counties next door
- What a median St. Bernard Parish budget can carry
- St. Bernard Parish households compared
- Reading the St. Bernard Parish data as a borrower
- Checklist for St. Bernard Parish applicants
- Licensing and complaints for St. Bernard Parish
- More guides for St. Bernard Parish
- Frequently asked questions
St. Bernard Parish, LA: the basics
Roughly 44,419 residents live in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, 26th by population among the state's 64 counties and county equivalents. Packed into 378 square miles, that is close to 118 residents for every square mile of land. It is one of the counties that make up the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 6 Census places inside St. Bernard Parish, Chalmette leads by population with about 22,616; 0 of the 6 are incorporated.
What it costs to live in St. Bernard Parish
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,082 in St. Bernard Parish versus $1,064 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 60% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $202,500, about 3.5 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 70%.
| Cost | St. Bernard Parish | Louisiana figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,082/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $202,500 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 60% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 28% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 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.
Household income in St. Bernard Parish
St. Bernard Parish households have a median income of $58,651 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 23rd of 64 in Louisiana.
| Household income | St. Bernard Parish | vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 32.7% | +2.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.6% | +1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.6% | -2.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.0% | -0.8 pts |
About 33% of households earn under $35,000, while 27% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 23.0%, 4 points higher than the state's 18.9%. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the St. Bernard Parish median.
How St. Bernard Parish residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 21% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. The survey's unemployment rate for St. Bernard Parish averages 7.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.3%). 27% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 8% work from home. Only 8.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | St. Bernard Parish share | +/- vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.9% | -4.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.0% | +1.1 pts |
| Construction | 10.2% | +1.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.6% | +0.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 8.3% | +0.8 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.
The communities that make up St. Bernard Parish
Here are the 6 most populous of the county's 6 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 94% of St. Bernard Parish residents live in one of the 6. Meraux has the highest median household income on the list ($76,021) and Violet the lowest ($51,038), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in Violet ($942) and steepest in Poydras ($1,114). Live in one of these St. Bernard Parish communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chalmette | CDP | 22,616 | $54,904 | $1,110 | 42 mi |
| Meraux | CDP | 7,918 | $76,021 | $1,055 | 39 mi |
| Arabi | CDP | 4,625 | $56,813 | $981 | 44 mi |
| Violet | CDP | 4,122 | $51,038 | $942 | 38 mi |
| Poydras | CDP | 2,260 | $59,105 | $1,114 | 38 mi |
| Delacroix | CDP | 17 | n/a | n/a | 33 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
St. Bernard Parish and the counties next door
Hancock County is closest, 35 miles from center to center; the sixth, St. Tammany Parish, is 53 miles off. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than St. Bernard Parish; Plaquemines Parish is highest at $86,315 and Orleans Parish lowest at $56,631. The list crosses into Mississippi, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Bernard Parish | - | $58,651 | $1,082/mo | 70% |
| Hancock County, MS | 35 mi | $67,708 | $977/mo | 79% |
| Harrison County, MS | 36 mi | $59,479 | $1,115/mo | 62% |
| Orleans Parish, LA | 41 mi | $56,631 | $1,251/mo | 51% |
| Plaquemines Parish, LA | 48 mi | $86,315 | $1,573/mo | 76% |
| Jackson County, MS | 53 mi | $66,201 | $1,101/mo | 73% |
| St. Tammany Parish, LA | 53 mi | $81,202 | $1,332/mo | 79% |
What a median St. Bernard Parish budget can carry
How much room does a median St. Bernard Parish budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- $58,651 a year is $4,888 of gross monthly income
- Less median rent of $1,082, which is 22% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $678 left for all other debt payments
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,020 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Two-income households and single earners in St. Bernard Parish land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
St. Bernard Parish households compared
College graduates make up 18% of the adult population. 7.8% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | St. Bernard Parish | Louisiana | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.2 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.6% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.8% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.8% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.2% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.3% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 23.0% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 7.6% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | St. Bernard Parish workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 25.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 16.6% |
| 60+ min | 10.1% |
Reading the St. Bernard Parish data as a borrower
A few patterns in the St. Bernard Parish data, and the practical point behind each:
- Vehicle repairs. 27% of St. Bernard Parish workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Assistance before credit. With a 23% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any St. Bernard Parish loan.
- Tight rental budgets. With 60% of St. Bernard Parish renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Checklist for St. Bernard Parish applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Ask a St. Bernard Parish credit union about member loans.
Licensing and complaints for St. Bernard Parish
Before sharing details with a lender, a St. Bernard Parish resident can confirm its license with the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. More on Louisiana: Louisiana personal loans.
More guides for St. Bernard Parish
For statewide rules and data, see the Louisiana guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in St. Bernard Parish?
$58,651 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $60,756 for Louisiana. It ranks 23rd of 64 in the state.
How does St. Bernard Parish rent compare with Louisiana?
$1,082 locally versus $1,064 for the state, 2% above.
Should St. Bernard Parish homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 70% of St. Bernard Parish homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the St. Bernard Parish guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 6 Census places: Chalmette, Meraux, Arabi, Violet, Poydras.
Will a St. Bernard Parish address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Louisiana as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.