1st Advantage MortgageAbout 82% of St. Charles Parish homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $80,897. 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. Charles Parish, LA: the basics
- Paychecks and income spread in St. Charles Parish
- What it costs to live in St. Charles Parish
- Employment and commuting in St. Charles Parish
- Towns and communities in St. Charles Parish
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Room for a loan payment in St. Charles Parish
- St. Charles Parish households compared
- Borrowing situations common in St. Charles Parish
- Who licenses lenders for St. Charles Parish residents
- Four steps for St. Charles Parish borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
St. Charles Parish, LA: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts St. Charles Parish's population at 51,396; only 19 of Louisiana's 64 county-level areas are larger. Packed into 278 square miles, that is close to 185 residents for every square mile of land. For statistical purposes it belongs to the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Luling is the biggest of its 14 Census places, at roughly 13,960 people (27% of the county total).
Paychecks and income spread in St. Charles Parish
Half of St. Charles Parish households take in less than $80,897 a year and half take in more, 33% above the Louisiana median of $60,756. That places it 5th among Louisiana's 64 county-level areas.
| Households earning | St. Charles Parish | +/- vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.0% | -8.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.9% | -2.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.9% | +7.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.3% | +3.5 pts |
About 22% of households earn under $35,000, while 41% clear $100,000. 11.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 18.9%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.420 here. For a borrower in St. Charles Parish, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
What it costs to live in St. Charles Parish
Renters in St. Charles Parish pay a median of $1,210 a month, 14% above the Louisiana figure of $1,064. 66% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 44% spend half or more. With a median value of $263,700, a typical St. Charles Parish house costs 3.3 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 82% of homes.
| Housing | St. Charles Parish | Louisiana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,210/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $263,700 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 82% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 66% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 27% | 28% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 10% | 14% | n/a |
Because most St. Charles Parish households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Employment and commuting in St. Charles Parish
Education and health care employs 25% of working residents, the largest share; manufacturing is next with 11%. Compared with Louisiana, the county leans toward manufacturing (11% against 8%). Averaged over the five survey years, 6.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 83% drive to work alone and 15% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 2.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | St. Charles Parish | Compared with Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 25.1% | -0.4 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11.5% | +3.9 pts |
| Construction | 9.6% | +1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.6% | -1.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.4% | +2.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.3% | -2.8 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.
Towns and communities in St. Charles Parish
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 14 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 100% of St. Charles Parish residents live in one of the 14. Incomes vary by place: $162,951 at the median in Bayou Gauche, $51,989 in New Sarpy. Median rent ranges from $848 in New Sarpy to $1,625 in Luling. No St. Charles Parish place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 14.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luling | CDP | 13,960 | $76,539 | $1,625 | 1 mi |
| Destrehan | CDP | 11,619 | $90,509 | $1,257 | 5 mi |
| St. Rose | CDP | 7,644 | $74,075 | $856 | 5 mi |
| Hahnville | CDP | 3,520 | $100,956 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Norco | CDP | 2,781 | $71,220 | $1,081 | 7 mi |
| Des Allemands | CDP | 2,382 | $88,390 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Montz | CDP | 2,074 | $91,875 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Boutte | CDP | 2,027 | $68,220 | n/a | 2 mi |
| Bayou Gauche | CDP | 1,908 | $162,951 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Ama | CDP | 1,483 | $73,359 | $1,310 | 5 mi |
| New Sarpy | CDP | 1,247 | $51,989 | $848 | 5 mi |
| Paradis | CDP | 552 | $61,250 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Killona | CDP | 188 | $31,591 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Taft | CDP | 112 | n/a | n/a | 8 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
St. John the Baptist Parish is closest, 18 miles from center to center; the sixth, Ascension Parish, is 39 miles off. Income ranges from $56,631 in Orleans Parish to $91,549 in Ascension Parish; 1 of these neighbors top St. Charles Parish's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Charles Parish | - | $80,897 | $1,210/mo | 82% |
| St. John the Baptist Parish, LA | 18 mi | $66,630 | $1,334/mo | 77% |
| Orleans Parish, LA | 27 mi | $56,631 | $1,251/mo | 51% |
| St. James Parish, LA | 27 mi | $65,531 | $903/mo | 84% |
| Lafourche Parish, LA | 29 mi | $63,135 | $928/mo | 80% |
| Jefferson Parish, LA | 34 mi | $65,252 | $1,190/mo | 63% |
| Ascension Parish, LA | 39 mi | $91,549 | $1,318/mo | 81% |
Room for a loan payment in St. Charles Parish
How much room does a median St. Charles 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, St. Charles Parish: $6,741
- Rent at the median, $1,210, takes 18% of that
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,487 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of St. Charles Parish's.
St. Charles Parish households compared
Degree holders: 27% of adults over 25. About 7% go without health insurance.
| St. Charles Parish | Louisiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.9% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.8% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.0% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.5% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.7% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | St. Charles Parish |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 22.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 37.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.8% |
| 60+ min | 5.6% |
Borrowing situations common in St. Charles Parish
What the St. Charles Parish figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Higher earners. 41% of households clear $100,000; shop at least three lenders and pick the shortest term.
- Rent squeeze. 66% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a St. Charles Parish borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Who licenses lenders for St. Charles Parish residents
The Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Louisiana license. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Louisiana: Louisiana personal loans.
Four steps for St. Charles Parish borrowers
Quick steps for St. Charles Parish:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in St. Charles Parish.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Louisiana license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Related local guides
The Louisiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is St. Charles Parish a high-income county?
Its $80,897 median ranks 5th of 64 Louisiana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in St. Charles Parish?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,210 a month; 66% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I own my home in St. Charles Parish. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 82% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
Which towns does the St. Charles Parish guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 14 Census places: Luling, Destrehan, St. Rose, Hahnville, Norco.
Is the fit check different in St. Charles Parish?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.