1st Advantage MortgageSt. Landry Parish households have a median income of $44,462 and median rent of $748 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
- Getting oriented in St. Landry Parish
- How much St. Landry Parish households make
- How St. Landry Parish residents earn a living
- Housing costs in St. Landry Parish
- St. Landry Parish next to its neighbors
- Towns and communities in St. Landry Parish
- Room for a loan payment in St. Landry Parish
- Reading the St. Landry Parish data as a borrower
- Who lives in St. Landry Parish, in numbers
- Licensing and complaints for St. Landry Parish
- A St. Landry Parish borrower's checklist
- More guides for St. Landry Parish
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in St. Landry Parish
With an estimated 81,670 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), St. Landry Parish ranks 16th of 64 in Louisiana for population. Land area is 923 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 88 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 13 places in the county (11 incorporated, 2 census-designated); the largest is Opelousas, with about 15,495 residents, or 19% of the county.
How much St. Landry Parish households make
Half of St. Landry Parish households take in less than $44,462 a year and half take in more, 27% below the Louisiana median of $60,756. In the state ranking that is 51st of 64.
| Household income | St. Landry Parish | vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 41.0% | +10.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.5% | +0.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 16.6% | -5.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.9% | -4.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 19% of St. Landry Parish households make $100,000 or more, and 41% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 26.8%, 8 points higher than the state's 18.9%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
How St. Landry Parish residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 26% of employed St. Landry Parish residents work in education and health care and 13% in retail trade. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 5% locally and 3% for Louisiana. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 6.3% in St. Landry Parish. Long commutes are common here: 21% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 9.9% of the total (8.4% statewide).
| Industry | Share of St. Landry Parish workers | vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.1% | +0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +1.8 pts |
| Construction | 9.9% | +1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.8% | -0.5 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.7% | +0.1 pts |
| Other services | 6.7% | +1.5 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in St. Landry Parish should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Housing costs in St. Landry Parish
Renters in St. Landry Parish pay a median of $748 a month, 30% below the Louisiana figure of $1,064. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 26% spend half or more. Home values center on $142,500, or 3.2 years of median income. The ownership rate is 70%. The median year built is 1980.
| St. Landry Parish | Louisiana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $748/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $142,500 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 20.5% | 12.6% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
St. Landry Parish next to its neighbors
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (24 to 39 miles). Income ranges from $39,325 in Avoyelles Parish to $67,451 in Lafayette Parish; 4 of these neighbors top St. Landry Parish's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Landry Parish | - | $44,462 | $748/mo | 70% |
| Pointe Coupee Parish, LA | 24 mi | $65,961 | $817/mo | 80% |
| Evangeline Parish, LA | 26 mi | $41,915 | $681/mo | 66% |
| Lafayette Parish, LA | 26 mi | $67,451 | $1,057/mo | 65% |
| Acadia Parish, LA | 32 mi | $45,562 | $681/mo | 67% |
| Avoyelles Parish, LA | 35 mi | $39,325 | $757/mo | 70% |
| St. Martin Parish, LA | 39 mi | $55,960 | $870/mo | 78% |
Towns and communities in St. Landry Parish
Here are the 13 most populous of the county's 13 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 35% of St. Landry Parish residents live in one of the 13. Incomes vary by place: $72,000 at the median in Cankton, $16,111 in Arnaudville. Rent is cheapest in Arnaudville ($502) and steepest in Port Barre ($881). No St. Landry Parish place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 13.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opelousas | city | 15,495 | $32,964 | $717 | 7 mi |
| Sunset | town | 3,074 | $60,964 | $860 | 13 mi |
| Port Barre | town | 2,275 | $41,278 | $881 | 3 mi |
| Leonville | town | 1,395 | $43,015 | $693 | 8 mi |
| Arnaudville | town | 1,239 | $16,111 | $502 | 13 mi |
| Lawtell | CDP | 1,171 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Grand Coteau | town | 959 | $34,730 | $678 | 12 mi |
| Krotz Springs | town | 831 | n/a | $621 | 14 mi |
| Melville | town | 589 | $35,500 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Washington | town | 564 | $41,563 | $627 | 5 mi |
| Cankton | village | 514 | $72,000 | $668 | 18 mi |
| Morrow | CDP | 153 | $35,038 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Palmetto | village | 119 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Room for a loan payment in St. Landry Parish
Here is the St. Landry Parish median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Median income divided by twelve: $3,705 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $748, takes 20% of that
- At 40%, room after rent is $734 a month
If your rent is above $748, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Reading the St. Landry Parish data as a borrower
Based on the St. Landry Parish data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Vehicle repairs. 21% of St. Landry Parish workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Mobile home upkeep. 20% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Free help first. 27% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Tight rental budgets. With 51% of St. Landry Parish renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
Who lives in St. Landry Parish, in numbers
Degree holders: 15% of adults over 25. 7.2% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | St. Landry Parish | Louisiana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.8 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 14.9% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.6% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.2% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.9% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.3% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 26.8% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.3% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | St. Landry Parish |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 29.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 19.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.2% |
| 60+ min | 11.7% |
Licensing and complaints for St. Landry Parish
St. Landry Parish borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Louisiana guide.
A St. Landry Parish borrower's checklist
A short checklist for St. Landry Parish borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in St. Landry Parish.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Louisiana license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for St. Landry Parish
For statewide rules and data, see the Louisiana guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is St. Landry Parish a high-income county?
Its $44,462 median ranks 51st of 64 Louisiana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does St. Landry Parish rent compare with Louisiana?
$748 locally versus $1,064 for the state, 30% below.
I live in a small St. Landry Parish town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Opelousas, Sunset, Port Barre, Leonville, Arnaudville and 8 more.
Can St. Landry 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.
Where can someone in St. Landry 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.