1st Advantage MortgageIn West Carroll Parish, Louisiana, the typical household earns $49,134 a year and the typical rent is $740. 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
- West Carroll Parish, LA: the basics
- The West Carroll Parish job picture
- Paychecks and income spread in West Carroll Parish
- Rent, home values and ownership in West Carroll Parish
- How West Carroll Parish compares with nearby counties
- Places inside West Carroll Parish
- Who lives in West Carroll Parish, in numbers
- Before borrowing in West Carroll Parish
- Debt-to-income at West Carroll Parish's medians
- A West Carroll Parish borrower's checklist
- Licensing and complaints for West Carroll Parish
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
West Carroll Parish, LA: the basics
With an estimated 9,464 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), West Carroll Parish ranks 59th of 64 in Louisiana for population. Spread over 360 square miles, that works out to roughly 26.3 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Oak Grove is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 1,264 people (13% of the county total). Because West Carroll Parish is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
The West Carroll Parish job picture
By the Census industry count, 22% of employed West Carroll Parish residents work in education and health care and 16% in construction. Compared with Louisiana, the county leans toward construction (16% against 8%). Averaged over the five survey years, 5.7% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 83% drive to work alone and 18% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 5.9% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | West Carroll Parish share | +/- vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.3% | -3.2 pts |
| Construction | 15.8% | +7.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.4% | +1.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 10.3% | +7.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.1% | -0.7 pts |
| Other services | 5.2% | 0.0 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.
Paychecks and income spread in West Carroll Parish
West Carroll Parish households have a median income of $49,134 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 41st of 64 in Louisiana.
| Household income | West Carroll Parish | vs Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 35.1% | +4.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.8% | +2.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.1% | -5.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.0% | -1.8 pts |
About 35% of households earn under $35,000, while 23% clear $100,000. Census counts 16.2% of West Carroll Parish residents in poverty, against 18.9% across Louisiana. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.454 here. A household earning below the $49,134 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Rent, home values and ownership in West Carroll Parish
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $740 in West Carroll Parish versus $1,064 statewide. By the Census definition, 37% of West Carroll Parish renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $94,400, or 1.9 years of median income. Owners occupy 76% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1978.
| Measure | West Carroll Parish | Louisiana | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $740/mo | $1,064/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $94,400 | $216,500 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 67% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 37% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 16% | 28% | n/a |
Because most West Carroll Parish households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
How West Carroll Parish compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from East Carroll Parish at 13 miles out to Madison Parish at 33. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than West Carroll Parish; Richland Parish is highest at $53,544 and Issaquena County lowest at $31,429. Some neighbors are in Arkansas and Mississippi. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a West Carroll Parish resident follows Louisiana rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Carroll Parish | - | $49,134 | $740/mo | 76% |
| East Carroll Parish, LA | 13 mi | $33,341 | $652/mo | 58% |
| Morehouse Parish, LA | 20 mi | $39,454 | $839/mo | 69% |
| Issaquena County, MS | 26 mi | $31,429 | $339/mo | 66% |
| Richland Parish, LA | 31 mi | $53,544 | $903/mo | 67% |
| Ashley County, AR | 33 mi | $44,266 | $703/mo | 71% |
| Madison Parish, LA | 33 mi | $35,456 | $649/mo | 53% |
Places inside West Carroll Parish
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in West Carroll Parish, by population. Together all 5 hold about 3,088 people, so roughly 67% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these West Carroll Parish communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Grove | town | 1,264 | $51,136 | $679 | 6 mi |
| Pioneer | village | 487 | $82,930 | $844 | 4 mi |
| Forest | village | 486 | $40,347 | $950 | 2 mi |
| Epps | village | 467 | $53,667 | $1,031 | 13 mi |
| Kilbourne | village | 384 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
Who lives in West Carroll Parish, in numbers
15% of West Carroll Parish adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 6% go without health insurance.
| Measure | West Carroll Parish | Louisiana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 38.0 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 15.2% | 27.0% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 18.3% | 12.7% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.9% | 7.8% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.9% | 8.4% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 8.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.2% | 18.9% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.7% | 6.3% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of West Carroll Parish workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 39.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 22.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.0% |
| 60+ min | 10.5% |
Before borrowing in West Carroll Parish
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for West Carroll Parish borrowers.
- 32% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a West Carroll Parish borrower sees (free reports).
Debt-to-income at West Carroll Parish's medians
How much room does a median West Carroll Parish budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $4,094 gross per month ($49,134 / 12)
- 18% goes to median rent ($740)
- Under a 36% cap, $1,474 total minus rent leaves $734
If your rent is above $740, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
A West Carroll Parish borrower's checklist
Steps that save money for West Carroll Parish residents:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one West Carroll Parish-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Louisiana.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Licensing and complaints for West Carroll Parish
The Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Louisiana license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Louisiana state guide for the statewide picture.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Louisiana guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in West Carroll Parish?
$49,134 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $60,756 for Louisiana. It ranks 41st of 64 in the state.
How much is rent in West Carroll Parish?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $740 a month; 37% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should West Carroll Parish homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of West Carroll Parish homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small West Carroll Parish town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Oak Grove, Pioneer, Forest, Epps, Kilbourne.
Is the fit check different in West Carroll Parish?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.