East Carroll Parish scores 71.8, exceeding the national median of 50.0 and ranking in the 70th percentile nationally. This indicates a county where affordability and stability are pronounced strengths.
2 / 5
Slightly above Louisiana's county average
The parish ranks just above the state average of 70.4, placing it in the upper middle tier of Louisiana counties. Its strong affordability profile gives it an edge in certain demographics.
3 / 5
Exceptional affordability across the board
East Carroll Parish leads with a tax score of 94.2 (effective tax rate 0.287%), cost score of 86.9, and median home value of just $87,400. Rent is equally accessible at $767 per month, making this one of Louisiana's most affordable counties.
4 / 5
Income and health concerns require attention
The income score of 1.9 reflects a median household income of only $28,321, among the lowest statewide. Health outcomes (50.3) also lag, and the elevated risk score of 78.4 suggests significant economic or environmental challenges.
5 / 5
For budget-conscious retirees and remote workers
East Carroll Parish is ideal for retirees on fixed incomes or remote workers seeking minimal cost of living and low taxes. The parish requires careful consideration of income prospects and health services availability before committing.
East Carroll Parish scores 71.8, exceeding the national median of 50.0 and ranking in the 70th percentile nationally. This indicates a county where affordability and stability are pronounced strengths.
Slightly above Louisiana's county average
The parish ranks just above the state average of 70.4, placing it in the upper middle tier of Louisiana counties. Its strong affordability profile gives it an edge in certain demographics.
Exceptional affordability across the board
East Carroll Parish leads with a tax score of 94.2 (effective tax rate 0.287%), cost score of 86.9, and median home value of just $87,400. Rent is equally accessible at $767 per month, making this one of Louisiana's most affordable counties.
Income and health concerns require attention
The income score of 1.9 reflects a median household income of only $28,321, among the lowest statewide. Health outcomes (50.3) also lag, and the elevated risk score of 78.4 suggests significant economic or environmental challenges.
For budget-conscious retirees and remote workers
East Carroll Parish is ideal for retirees on fixed incomes or remote workers seeking minimal cost of living and low taxes. The parish requires careful consideration of income prospects and health services availability before committing.
Score breakdown
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🏛94.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
At 0.287%, East Carroll Parish's effective property tax rate ranks in the bottom 5% nationally—a rare bargain. The median tax bill of just $251 annually is one-tenth the national median of $2,690, reflecting both a low rate and modest median home values of $87,400.
Lowest taxes in all of Louisiana
East Carroll Parish has Louisiana's lowest effective property tax rate at 0.287%, less than two-thirds the state average of 0.421%. This parish consistently offers property owners some of the lightest tax burdens in the entire state.
By far the cheapest in the region
East Carroll's 0.287% rate is dramatically lower than neighboring Franklin Parish (0.323%), Morehouse Parish, and other nearby parishes. Even modest homes here face minimal annual tax bills compared to surrounding Louisiana counties.
Minimal annual property tax burden
On the median home value of $87,400, East Carroll residents pay just $251 in annual property taxes—among the lowest in America. With a mortgage, this figure rises to $1,210 when other assessments apply.
Even low assessments merit review
Although East Carroll's rates are exceptionally low, homeowners should still verify their assessments are accurate. If your home's assessed value seems incorrect, an appeal could ensure you're paying only what you truly owe.
East Carroll Parish faces the steepest housing burden in this analysis: residents spend 32.5% of their income on rent, nearly double the national affordability threshold of 18%. With a median household income of just $28,321—well below the national average of $74,755—housing consumes a crushing share of resources.
Louisiana's least affordable parish
East Carroll's 32.5% rent-to-income ratio places it among Louisiana's most unaffordable parishes, far exceeding the state average of 19.5%. The parish median rent of $767 may seem cheap in absolute terms, but paired with the lowest median income here, it creates severe affordability strain.
Low rents, but lower incomes
While East Carroll's median rent of $767 undercuts most comparable parishes, its median household income of $28,321 is the lowest across these eight counties. Neighboring Franklin Parish ($44,103 median income) and Grant Parish ($61,112) offer significantly stronger earning potential.
Rent dominates household budgets
At $767 monthly rent against a $28,321 annual income, renters allocate 32.5% to housing alone, leaving little for other necessities. Owner costs run only $509 monthly, but the rural economy limits homeownership gains for most households.
Limited affordability for remote workers
East Carroll offers rock-bottom rents and home prices ($87,400 median), but severe income constraints make this parish a risky choice unless you bring significant remote income. Job seekers should explore neighboring parishes with stronger wage bases before settling here.
East Carroll Parish median household income stands at just $28,321—less than 38% of the national median of $74,755. This represents one of Louisiana's most economically challenged parishes, with limited high-wage employment opportunities.
Among Louisiana's lowest earners
East Carroll's $28,321 median household income trails the state average of $55,250 by more than half. The parish ranks near the bottom statewide, reflecting decades of agricultural decline and limited economic diversification.
Struggling alongside similar parishes
East Carroll's $28,321 lags Franklin Parish ($44,103) and Evangeline Parish ($42,273) nearby. The gap underscores East Carroll's isolation from regional economic centers and its dependence on a shrinking agricultural base.
Housing costs strain tight budgets
At 32.5%, East Carroll's rent-to-income ratio exceeds the 30% affordability threshold, meaning renters spend over one-third of income on housing alone. With median home values at just $87,400, homeownership offers modest relief but requires down payment savings many households cannot access.
Start small, build steady
Even modest income requires intentional saving; consider automatic transfers of $25–50 monthly to a dedicated savings account before other spending. Explore free financial counseling through local nonprofits and research skill-building programs that could increase earning potential over time.
Life expectancy significantly below national average
East Carroll residents live to 71.1 years on average—1.4 years shorter than Louisiana's state average and well below the national median of 78.9 years. Nearly 36.3% of residents report poor or fair health, one of the highest rates in the state and triple the national average.
Parish faces steepest health challenges statewide
East Carroll ranks among Louisiana's most vulnerable parishes on both life expectancy and self-reported health status. The 8.8% uninsured rate slightly exceeds the state average, compounding access barriers for a population already managing significant health burdens.
Limited primary care amid rural isolation
East Carroll has just 42 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, leaving residents in this rural parish underserved compared to urban and suburban areas. Mental health providers are more available at 527 per 100,000, though this density doesn't offset the shortage of basic primary care.
Insurance gaps compound rural healthcare barriers
One in nine East Carroll residents lacks health insurance, making routine preventive care unaffordable for a vulnerable share of the population. The combination of limited provider availability and insurance gaps creates daily obstacles to managing chronic disease and accessing mental health support.
Coverage opens doors to critical care access
If you're uninsured in East Carroll, enrolling through Louisiana Medicaid or healthcare.gov can transform your access to the primary care providers and specialists in the parish and region. Don't let cost barriers prevent you from getting the care you need—coverage enrollment happens year-round.
With a composite risk score of just 21.60, East Carroll ranks in the very-low risk category—well below the national average and among the safest counties nationally. This relatively benign risk profile reflects low exposure to floods (8.68) and wildfires (6.87), though tornado activity remains moderate. For most disaster hazards, residents here enjoy substantially lower threat levels than typical Americans.
East Carroll is Louisiana's safest parish
At 21.60, East Carroll's composite score sits dramatically below Louisiana's state average of 62.37, making it the state's least hazard-exposed parish. This nearly 41-point advantage reflects the parish's geographic and demographic circumstances that shield it from the flooding and hurricane threats plaguing coastal and river regions. East Carroll residents enjoy the state's most favorable disaster risk profile.
Safer than all surrounding parishes
East Carroll (21.60) scores significantly lower than nearby Franklin Parish (35.91) and Grant Parish (29.61), offering noticeably superior safety margins. Even comparison to distant parishes shows East Carroll's advantage: it's 35 points safer than Evangeline Parish and 55 points safer than East Baton Rouge. The parish's low-risk status is consistent across its surrounding region.
Tornado risk is your primary concern
Tornadoes represent the parish's highest hazard exposure at 62.66, though this still ranks only moderately compared to other Louisiana parishes. Hurricane risk (66.83) and earthquake risk (58.46) are secondary threats, though all three remain below state averages. Flooding and wildfire pose minimal risk to East Carroll residents.
Standard coverage sufficient for this parish
A solid homeowners insurance policy with tornado/windstorm coverage provides adequate protection for East Carroll's threat profile, as flood and hurricane risks are minimal. You do not require flood insurance unless specifically in a mapped floodplain, nor do you need specialized hurricane coverage. Focus your insurance dollars on tornado preparedness and maintain a basic emergency kit.