1st Advantage MortgageAbout 79% of St. Helena Parish homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $41,934. 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
- St. Helena Parish by the numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in St. Helena Parish
- What it costs to live in St. Helena Parish
- How St. Helena Parish residents earn a living
- Regional comparison for St. Helena Parish
- Places inside St. Helena Parish
- People and households in St. Helena Parish
- Borrowing situations common in St. Helena Parish
- Room for a loan payment in St. Helena Parish
- Checking a lender's license in Louisiana
- Steps before you apply in St. Helena Parish
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
St. Helena Parish by the numbers
St. Helena Parish is home to about 10,858 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 56th most populous of 64 county-level areas in Louisiana. It covers 409 square miles of land, or about 27 people per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Baton Rouge, LA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. The Census Bureau counts 2 places in the county (2 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Greensburg, with about 994 residents, or 9% of the county.
Paychecks and income spread in St. Helena Parish
Half of St. Helena Parish households take in less than $41,934 a year and half take in more, 31% below the Louisiana median of $60,756. Only 52 Louisiana counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | St. Helena Parish | +/- vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 44.3% | +13.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.9% | +1.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 10.8% | -11.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.0% | -3.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 15% of St. Helena Parish households make $100,000 or more, and 44% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 32.4%, 14 points higher than the state's 18.9%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.499 (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.
What it costs to live in St. Helena Parish
Renters in St. Helena Parish pay a median of $870 a month, 18% below the Louisiana figure of $1,064. By the Census definition, 37% of St. Helena Parish renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $77,300, about 1.8 times the median household income. 79% of St. Helena Parish households own their home and 21% rent. The median year built is 1987.
| St. Helena Parish | Louisiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $870/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $77,300 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 79% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 45.2% | 12.6% | n/a |
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).
How St. Helena Parish residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 27% of employed St. Helena Parish residents work in education and health care and 11% in arts, lodging and food service. Compared with Louisiana, the county leans toward manufacturing (10% against 8%). The survey's unemployment rate for St. Helena Parish averages 17.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.3%). Long commutes are common here: 42% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 10.4% of the total (8.4% statewide).
| Where residents work | St. Helena Parish | Difference from Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.3% | +1.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.9% | +1.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.8% | +2.3 pts |
| Construction | 9.6% | +1.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.1% | -1.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.8% | +1.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in St. Helena Parish should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Regional comparison for St. Helena Parish
Distances run center to center, from East Feliciana Parish at 20 miles out to Pike County at 31. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than St. Helena Parish; Livingston Parish is highest at $80,122 and Amite County lowest at $37,222. Some neighbors are in Mississippi. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a St. Helena Parish resident follows Louisiana rules.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Helena Parish | - | $41,934 | $870/mo | 79% |
| East Feliciana Parish, LA | 20 mi | $73,085 | $911/mo | 86% |
| Tangipahoa Parish, LA | 23 mi | $56,760 | $1,003/mo | 70% |
| Livingston Parish, LA | 26 mi | $80,122 | $1,151/mo | 81% |
| Amite County, MS | 27 mi | $37,222 | $670/mo | 82% |
| East Baton Rouge Parish, LA | 30 mi | $63,071 | $1,147/mo | 59% |
| Pike County, MS | 31 mi | $43,814 | $919/mo | 67% |
Places inside St. Helena Parish
The table lists the 2 largest of 2 Census places in St. Helena Parish, by population. Together all 2 hold about 1,200 people, so roughly 89% of residents live outside any named place. No St. Helena Parish place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greensburg | town | 994 | $45,344 | $219 | 2 mi |
| Montpelier | village | 206 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
People and households in St. Helena Parish
Degree holders: 11% of adults over 25. 6.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | St. Helena Parish | Louisiana | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 11.4% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 17.7% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.7% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 10.4% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 2.0% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 32.4% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 17.6% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | St. Helena Parish workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 17.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.2% |
| 60+ min | 32.8% |
Borrowing situations common in St. Helena Parish
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for St. Helena Parish borrowers.
- Long drives. With 42% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many St. Helena Parish budgets.
- 45% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Assistance before credit. With a 32% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any St. Helena Parish loan.
Room for a loan payment in St. Helena Parish
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a St. Helena Parish household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- Start: $3,494 gross per month ($41,934 / 12)
- 25% goes to median rent ($870)
- At 35%, room after rent is $353 a month
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $703 left for all other debt payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Checking a lender's license in Louisiana
Before sharing details with a lender, a St. Helena Parish resident can confirm its license with the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Louisiana: Louisiana personal loans.
Steps before you apply in St. Helena Parish
Before you apply, wherever you live in St. Helena Parish:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one St. Helena Parish-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Louisiana.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Louisiana guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is St. Helena Parish a high-income county?
Its $41,934 median ranks 53rd of 64 Louisiana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is St. Helena Parish expensive for renters?
Median rent is $870 against $1,064 statewide, and 37% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Greensburg?
Yes, along with the other 1 Census place in St. Helena Parish, such as Montpelier.
Does living in St. Helena Parish change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a St. Helena Parish resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for St. Helena 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.