1st Advantage MortgageThe median St. Mary Parish household earns $52,576, and 21% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Who lives in St. Mary Parish
- St. Mary Parish housing compared with Louisiana
- What St. Mary Parish households earn
- The St. Mary Parish job picture
- Places inside St. Mary Parish
- St. Mary Parish next to its neighbors
- Budget math at the St. Mary Parish median
- More St. Mary Parish figures
- What the numbers mean for St. Mary Parish borrowers
- Licensing and complaints for St. Mary Parish
- Four steps for St. Mary Parish borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in St. Mary Parish
With an estimated 47,828 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), St. Mary Parish ranks 23rd of 64 in Louisiana for population. Land area is 559 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 86 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes St. Mary Parish in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 12 Census places inside St. Mary Parish, Morgan City leads by population with about 11,064; 5 of the 12 are incorporated.
St. Mary Parish housing compared with Louisiana
Renters in St. Mary Parish pay a median of $848 a month, 20% below the Louisiana figure of $1,064. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. Home values center on $138,900, or 2.6 years of median income. Owners occupy 69% of homes. The median home was built in 1976, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Home costs | St. Mary Parish | Louisiana | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $848/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $138,900 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 28% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 17.8% | 12.6% | 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.
What St. Mary Parish households earn
Half of St. Mary Parish households take in less than $52,576 a year and half take in more, 13% below the Louisiana median of $60,756.
| Household income | St. Mary Parish | vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.9% | +5.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.6% | +1.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.5% | -2.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.9% | -3.9 pts |
The spread is wide: 23% of St. Mary Parish households make $100,000 or more, and 36% make less than $35,000. 20.8% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 18.9%). For a borrower in St. Mary 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.
The St. Mary Parish job picture
The biggest employer of St. Mary Parish residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by retail trade (14%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 9% of workers here, versus 3% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 5.4% in St. Mary Parish. Long commutes are the exception here: 13% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 11.3% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | St. Mary Parish share | +/- vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.9% | -4.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.3% | +3.2 pts |
| Construction | 10.4% | +2.0 pts |
| Manufacturing | 9.7% | +2.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.1% | +6.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.2% | -1.1 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Places inside St. Mary Parish
12 Census places fall mainly inside St. Mary Parish; the 12 biggest are below. They account for 38,740 residents, leaving about 19% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Siracusaville has the highest median household income on the list ($78,085) and Baldwin the lowest ($31,669), counting places with at least 500 residents. This guide covers each of the 12 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan City | city | 11,064 | $56,474 | $917 | 17 mi |
| Franklin | city | 6,461 | $39,518 | $814 | 11 mi |
| Patterson | city | 5,744 | $49,886 | $878 | 10 mi |
| Berwick | town | 4,607 | $51,580 | $493 | 15 mi |
| Bayou Vista | CDP | 3,842 | $40,500 | $864 | 13 mi |
| Baldwin | town | 1,962 | $31,669 | $953 | 16 mi |
| Amelia | CDP | 1,712 | $55,472 | $583 | 21 mi |
| Charenton | CDP | 1,440 | $63,463 | $1,052 | 17 mi |
| Centerville | CDP | 685 | $74,509 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Sorrel | CDP | 564 | $62,578 | n/a | 20 mi |
| Siracusaville | CDP | 515 | $78,085 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Glencoe | CDP | 144 | $30,742 | n/a | 18 mi |
St. Mary Parish next to its neighbors
The six counties whose centers lie closest to St. Mary Parish's, from 23 to 49 miles away. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than St. Mary Parish; St. James Parish is highest at $65,531 and Assumption Parish lowest at $51,423.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Mary Parish | - | $52,576 | $848/mo | 69% |
| Iberia Parish, LA | 23 mi | $56,961 | $897/mo | 67% |
| Assumption Parish, LA | 30 mi | $51,423 | $810/mo | 85% |
| St. Martin Parish, LA | 35 mi | $55,960 | $870/mo | 78% |
| Terrebonne Parish, LA | 43 mi | $64,836 | $1,065/mo | 75% |
| Iberville Parish, LA | 45 mi | $54,000 | $827/mo | 75% |
| St. James Parish, LA | 49 mi | $65,531 | $903/mo | 84% |
Budget math at the St. Mary Parish median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to St. Mary Parish's medians:
- Start: $4,381 gross per month ($52,576 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $848, takes 19% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $729 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
More St. Mary Parish figures
College graduates make up 14% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 8.5%, against 7.8% for Louisiana.
| People and households | St. Mary Parish | Louisiana | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.7 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 13.6% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 19.7% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.5% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 11.3% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.5% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.8% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | St. Mary Parish workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.3% |
| 60+ min | 7.7% |
What the numbers mean for St. Mary Parish borrowers
A few patterns in the St. Mary Parish data, and the practical point behind each:
- Mobile home upkeep. 18% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Free help first. 21% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
- Rent squeeze. 51% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
Licensing and complaints for St. Mary Parish
Before sharing details with a lender, a St. Mary 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. The Louisiana guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for St. Mary Parish borrowers
Quick steps for St. Mary Parish:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one St. Mary Parish-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Louisiana borrowers.
- 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
What is the median household income in St. Mary Parish?
$52,576 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $60,756 for Louisiana. It ranks 35th of 64 in the state.
Is St. Mary Parish expensive for renters?
Median rent is $848 against $1,064 statewide, and 51% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in St. Mary Parish?
By population: Morgan City, Franklin, Patterson, Berwick, Bayou Vista. The county has 12 Census places in all.
Can St. Mary 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 do I complain to about a lender in St. Mary Parish?
Start with the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.