1st Advantage MortgageThe median Vermilion Parish household earns $55,707, and 20% of residents live below the poverty line. For a Vermilion Parish borrower, the useful steps are the same anywhere: price the need, gather three written offers, and check the Louisiana license.
On this page
- Population and place: Vermilion Parish
- The Vermilion Parish job picture
- Housing costs in Vermilion Parish
- Income in Vermilion Parish compared with Louisiana
- Abbeville and the rest of Vermilion Parish
- Vermilion Parish, Lafayette Parish and other neighbors
- What the numbers mean for Vermilion Parish borrowers
- A Vermilion Parish household budget, worked through
- More Vermilion Parish figures
- Who licenses lenders for Vermilion Parish residents
- Steps before you apply in Vermilion Parish
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Population and place: Vermilion Parish
With an estimated 57,123 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Vermilion Parish ranks 18th of 64 in Louisiana for population. Spread over 1,172 square miles, that works out to roughly 48.7 residents per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Lafayette, LA metropolitan area. Of the 7 Census places inside Vermilion Parish, Abbeville leads by population with about 11,003; 6 of the 7 are incorporated.
The Vermilion Parish job picture
The biggest employer of Vermilion Parish residents, by industry, is education and health care at 25% of workers, followed by retail trade (14%). Relative to Louisiana (3%), agriculture, forestry and mining is 10 points bigger in Vermilion Parish (13%). The survey's unemployment rate for Vermilion Parish averages 5.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.3%). Long commutes are common here: 18% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 2,136 Vermilion Parish households, 9.8%, have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Vermilion Parish share | +/- vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.9% | -0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 14.4% | +3.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 12.8% | +9.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.4% | -1.4 pts |
| Construction | 7.7% | -0.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.4% | -2.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Vermilion Parish should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Housing costs in Vermilion Parish
Renters in Vermilion Parish pay a median of $848 a month, 20% below the Louisiana figure of $1,064. About 6 in 10 Vermilion Parish renters pay 30% or more of income for rent. Home values center on $163,300, or 2.9 years of median income. 73% of Vermilion Parish households own their home and 27% rent. The median year built is 1983.
| Housing | Vermilion Parish | Louisiana statewide | Vermilion Parish vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile homes | 19.1% | 12.6% | +6.6 pts |
| Owners | 73% | 67% | +6.0 pts |
| Burdened owners | 25% | 28% | -3.4 pts |
| Median home value | $163,300 | $216,500 | 25% lower |
| Vacant units | 17% | 14% | +2.2 pts |
| Median gross rent | $848/mo | $1,064/mo | 20% lower |
| Rent-burdened renters | 55% | 55% | +0.4 pts |
In an owner-heavy county like Vermilion 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. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Income in Vermilion Parish compared with Louisiana
Median household income in Vermilion Parish: $55,707 (8% below Louisiana, $60,756). That places it 30th among Louisiana's 64 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Vermilion Parish | Gap to Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 34.2% | +3.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.7% | -2.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.3% | +2.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.8% | -3.0 pts |
On the low end, 34% of Vermilion Parish households report under $35,000; at the top, 29% report $100,000-plus. The poverty rate is 20.2%, 1 point 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.
Abbeville and the rest of Vermilion Parish
25,172 of Vermilion Parish's 57,123 residents live in its 7 Census places (44%); the 7 largest are listed. Gap between richest and poorest larger place: $62,942, Maurice over Gueydan. Median rent ranges from $747 in Gueydan to $1,053 in Maurice. Live in one of these Vermilion Parish communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbeville | city | 11,003 | $33,015 | $829 | 16 mi |
| Kaplan | city | 4,238 | $40,109 | $826 | 14 mi |
| Maurice | village | 2,584 | $90,833 | $1,053 | 24 mi |
| Delcambre | town | 2,552 | $59,038 | $815 | 22 mi |
| Erath | town | 1,907 | $47,568 | $902 | 20 mi |
| Gueydan | town | 1,464 | $27,891 | $747 | 19 mi |
| Perry | CDP | 1,424 | $81,982 | n/a | 14 mi |
Vermilion Parish, Lafayette Parish and other neighbors
Lafayette Parish is closest, 32 miles from center to center; the sixth, Cameron Parish, is 51 miles off. Vermilion Parish's $55,707 median trails 5 of the six and beats 1; the range runs $45,562 (Acadia Parish) to $75,278 (Cameron Parish).
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vermilion Parish | - | $55,707 | $848/mo | 73% |
| Lafayette Parish, LA | 32 mi | $67,451 | $1,057/mo | 65% |
| Iberia Parish, LA | 32 mi | $56,961 | $897/mo | 67% |
| Acadia Parish, LA | 34 mi | $45,562 | $681/mo | 67% |
| Jefferson Davis Parish, LA | 44 mi | $57,341 | $848/mo | 77% |
| St. Martin Parish, LA | 48 mi | $55,960 | $870/mo | 78% |
| Cameron Parish, LA | 51 mi | $75,278 | $1,688/mo | 95% |
What the numbers mean for Vermilion Parish borrowers
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Vermilion Parish borrowers.
- Long drives. With 18% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Vermilion Parish budgets.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 19% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Help that costs nothing. About 11,518 Vermilion Parish residents live in poverty; see free options before a loan.
- Rent at $848. With 55% burdened, a short term and small amount keep risk down.
A Vermilion Parish household budget, worked through
Here is the Vermilion Parish median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $4,642 a month: gross income for a household at the Vermilion Parish median
- Median rent: $848, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- 40% debt-to-income limit: $1,009 left for all other debt payments
Homeowners in Vermilion Parish should swap in their mortgage, taxes and insurance for rent.
More Vermilion Parish figures
Degree holders: 18% of adults over 25. 7.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Vermilion Parish | Gap to Louisiana | Gap to typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.6% | -9.5 pts | -4.6 pts |
| No high school diploma | 15.9% | +3.1 pts | n/a |
| Work from home | 5.3% | -2.8 pts | -3.3 pts |
| No vehicle | 9.8% | +1.4 pts | +4.4 pts |
| Poverty rate | 20.2% | +1.2 pts | +7.0 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.2% | -1.1 pts | +0.8 pts |
| Median age | 39.1 | +1.1 yrs | -2.4 yrs |
| No health insurance | 7.5% | -0.4 pts | -0.4 pts |
| Commute length | Vermilion Parish |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 30.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 27.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 24.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.3% |
| 60+ min | 8.7% |
Who licenses lenders for Vermilion Parish residents
Vermilion Parish borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Louisiana state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Vermilion Parish
Quick steps for Vermilion Parish:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Related local guides
Statewide:
Frequently asked questions
Is $55,707 a good income in Vermilion Parish?
It is the county median, so half of Vermilion Parish households earn more and half less; 29% earn $100,000 or more.
Can a Vermilion Parish renter afford a loan payment?
At the $848 median rent and $4,642 median monthly income, rent alone uses 18%; add other debts before a new payment.
Does this page cover Abbeville?
Yes, along with the other 6 Census places in Vermilion Parish, such as Kaplan, Maurice, Delcambre.
Are Vermilion Parish applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Where can someone in Vermilion 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.