1st Advantage MortgageSt. John the Baptist Parish households have a median income of $66,630 and median rent of $1,334 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- A quick profile of St. John the Baptist Parish
- Income in St. John the Baptist Parish compared with Louisiana
- Jobs and commutes in St. John the Baptist Parish
- What it costs to live in St. John the Baptist Parish
- St. John the Baptist Parish and the counties next door
- Towns and communities in St. John the Baptist Parish
- Who lives in St. John the Baptist Parish, in numbers
- Borrowing situations common in St. John the Baptist Parish
- A St. John the Baptist Parish household budget, worked through
- Checking a lender's license in Louisiana
- Checklist for St. John the Baptist Parish applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of St. John the Baptist Parish
St. John the Baptist Parish is home to about 40,743 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 27th most populous of 64 county-level areas in Louisiana. It covers 214 square miles of land, or about 190 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (0 incorporated, 6 census-designated); the largest is Laplace, with about 28,343 residents, or 70% of the county.
Income in St. John the Baptist Parish compared with Louisiana
At $66,630, the typical St. John the Baptist Parish household income sits near the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 14th of 64.
| Income band | Share in St. John the Baptist Parish | Difference from Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.7% | -3.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.9% | +5.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.9% | -0.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -2.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 27% of St. John the Baptist Parish households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 14.4%, 5 points lower than the state's 18.9%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.426 (0 is perfect equality). 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. John the Baptist Parish median.
Jobs and commutes in St. John the Baptist Parish
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; construction is next with 12%. The sharpest difference from the state is in construction, at 12% locally and 8% for Louisiana. The survey's unemployment rate for St. John the Baptist Parish averages 10.9% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.3%). 21% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 6% work from home. Only 5.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | St. John the Baptist Parish share | +/- vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.4% | +0.9 pts |
| Construction | 12.1% | +3.7 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.9% | +0.8 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.8% | +2.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.4% | -2.4 pts |
| Public administration | 7.4% | +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.
What it costs to live in St. John the Baptist Parish
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,334 in St. John the Baptist Parish versus $1,064 statewide. 54% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 29% spend half or more. With a median value of $193,200, a typical St. John the Baptist Parish house costs 2.9 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 77% of homes. The median year built is 1984.
| Cost | St. John the Baptist Parish | Louisiana figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,334/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $193,200 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 77% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 54% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 37% | 28% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 15% | 14% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like St. John the Baptist Parish, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it. 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?
St. John the Baptist Parish and the counties next door
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (18 to 34 miles). Income ranges from $56,631 in Orleans Parish to $91,549 in Ascension Parish; 3 of these neighbors top St. John the Baptist Parish's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. John the Baptist Parish | - | $66,630 | $1,334/mo | 77% |
| St. Charles Parish, LA | 18 mi | $80,897 | $1,210/mo | 82% |
| St. James Parish, LA | 20 mi | $65,531 | $903/mo | 84% |
| Livingston Parish, LA | 25 mi | $80,122 | $1,151/mo | 81% |
| Ascension Parish, LA | 26 mi | $91,549 | $1,318/mo | 81% |
| Tangipahoa Parish, LA | 33 mi | $56,760 | $1,003/mo | 70% |
| Orleans Parish, LA | 34 mi | $56,631 | $1,251/mo | 51% |
Towns and communities in St. John the Baptist Parish
6 Census places fall mainly inside St. John the Baptist Parish; the 6 biggest are below. They account for 40,743 residents, leaving about 0% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $88,060 at the median in Garyville, $38,389 in Wallace. Rent is cheapest in Garyville ($1,078) and steepest in Reserve ($1,381). Live in one of these St. John the Baptist Parish communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laplace | CDP | 28,343 | $69,030 | $1,351 | 5 mi |
| Reserve | CDP | 7,791 | $55,450 | $1,381 | 6 mi |
| Garyville | CDP | 2,119 | $88,060 | $1,078 | 10 mi |
| Edgard | CDP | 1,482 | $68,953 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Wallace | CDP | 791 | $38,389 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Pleasure Bend | CDP | 217 | $68,958 | n/a | 18 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Who lives in St. John the Baptist Parish, in numbers
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. The uninsured rate is 6.7%, against 7.8% for Louisiana.
| People and households | St. John the Baptist Parish | Louisiana | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 18.2% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 14.5% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.7% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.4% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.4% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 10.9% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of St. John the Baptist Parish workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 23.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 29.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.5% |
| 60+ min | 9.5% |
Borrowing situations common in St. John the Baptist Parish
What the St. John the Baptist Parish figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Long drives. With 21% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many St. John the Baptist Parish budgets.
- Rent squeeze. 54% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
A St. John the Baptist Parish household budget, worked through
Here is the St. John the Baptist Parish median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $5,552 a month: gross income for a household at the St. John the Baptist Parish median
- Housing at the median rent of $1,334 uses 24%
- At 40%, room after rent is $887 a month
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. John the Baptist Parish resident can confirm its license with the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Louisiana: Louisiana personal loans.
Checklist for St. John the Baptist Parish applicants
Quick steps for St. John the Baptist Parish:
- Price the St. John the Baptist Parish expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- A Louisiana license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Related local guides
The Louisiana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in St. John the Baptist Parish earn?
The median is $66,630; 27% earn $100,000 or more and 28% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
What do renters pay in St. John the Baptist Parish?
$1,334 a month at the median, about 24% of median household income.
Does this page cover Laplace?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in St. John the Baptist Parish, such as Reserve, Garyville, Edgard.
Can St. John the Baptist Parish residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Louisiana county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who regulates personal lenders for St. John the Baptist 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.