70.9
County Score
Property Tax 92.6Disaster Risk 87.9Cost of Living 84

County Report Card

About LaSalle Parish, Louisiana

A National Leader in Livability

LaSalle Parish achieves an impressive composite score of 70.9, far exceeding the national median of 50.0. This makes it one of the most statistically favorable counties in the country.

Top-Tier Choice in Louisiana

Scoring nearly 18 points above the state average of 53.0, LaSalle is a standout performer. It offers a high standard of living compared to most other parishes.

Low Risk and High Affordability

The parish shines with a risk score of 87.9 and a cost score of 84.0. Median gross rent is an incredibly low $576, making it a very affordable place to call home.

Limited Health and Safety Data

Health scores are lower at 35.8, and data for safety and water quality are not yet available. Residents should look for local insights to fill these data gaps.

The Ultimate Value Seeker's Destination

LaSalle Parish is ideal for budget-conscious families and retirees seeking safety from natural disasters. It offers a rare combination of low risk, low taxes, and high school quality.

Score breakdown

Tax92.6Cost84SafetyComing SoonHealth35.8Schools72.6Income59.2Risk87.9WaterComing SoonWeather39.5
🏛92.6
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty
🏠84
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty
💼59.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty
🛡
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
CrimeByCounty
35.8
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty
🎓72.6
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
SchoolsByCounty
87.9
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty
💧
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades
WaterByCounty
🌤39.5
Weather & Climate
Average temperatures, precipitation, and extreme weather events
WeatherByCounty
🪨38.4
Soil Quality
Soil composition, pH, drainage, and organic matter content
SoilByCounty
🌱28.1
Lawn Care
Lawn difficulty score based on climate, soil, and grass suitability
LawnByCounty
🛒
Farmers Markets
Local market density, SNAP/EBT acceptance, and product variety
MarketsByCounty
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Deep Dives

LaSalle Parish across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 9 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in LaSalle Parish

via TaxByCounty

LaSalle Parish taxes well below national average

At 0.421%, LaSalle Parish's effective tax rate sits 25% below the national median of 0.565%, placing it in the bottom third nationally. Homeowners pay $578 annually on a median home valued at $137,200—just 21% of the national median tax of $2,690.

Right at Louisiana's state average rate

LaSalle Parish's 0.421% effective tax rate matches Louisiana's state average exactly, with a median property tax of $578 well below the state median of $732. This positions the parish as representative of typical Louisiana tax burdens.

Balanced among rural northeast parishes

LaSalle Parish's 0.421% rate sits between Jackson Parish (0.330%) and Lincoln Parish (0.499%), making it the median-taxed parish across northeast Louisiana's rural corridor. It's slightly lower than neighboring Catahoula and Concordia parishes.

What homeowners actually pay yearly

On LaSalle Parish's median home value of $137,200, the annual property tax is approximately $578 without a mortgage and $1,150 with one. This comes to roughly $48 per month for mortgage-free homeowners—moderate by state standards.

Appeal assessments on rural and timberland

LaSalle Parish's rural character means many properties include timber, farm land, or recreational acreage often overvalued by assessors. Owners of these properties should provide recent appraisals and comparable sales to challenge assessments that exceed fair market value.

Cost of Living in LaSalle Parish

via CostByCounty

LaSalle Parish: exceptional national affordability leader

With a stunning 10.3% rent-to-income ratio, LaSalle Parish dramatically outperforms the national average and every other Louisiana parish in this group. The median rent of just $576/month on a $67,077 income creates the most affordable rental market imaginable.

Unmatched housing affordability in Louisiana

LaSalle Parish's 10.3% rent-to-income ratio shatters the Louisiana state average of 19.5%, delivering nearly half the housing burden of typical parishes. Its $576/month median rent represents the lowest in this eight-parish comparison by a wide margin.

Rural gem with remarkable affordability edge

LaSalle's $576/month rent is $143 cheaper than the next-most affordable parish (Jackson at $719), and its 10.3% ratio is unmatched. While median income of $67,077 ranks middling, the extraordinary rent-to-income balance creates unparalleled affordability.

Rent takes just 10.3% of income; homeownership reasonable

Renters dedicate only $576 monthly—just 10.3% of $67,077 income—leaving substantial earnings for other needs. Homeowners pay $693/month on a modest $137,200 median home value, making purchase accessible for most households.

LaSalle Parish: America's most affordable option here

This rural parish delivers housing costs that seem impossible by national standards—10.3% rent burden puts it in a league of its own. If affordability is paramount and you can embrace rural living, LaSalle Parish deserves serious consideration.

Income & Jobs in LaSalle Parish

via IncomeByCounty

LaSalle Parish excels regionally

LaSalle Parish households earn $67,077 annually, 10% below the national median of $74,755. The parish ranks among Louisiana's highest-performing counties despite rural characteristics.

Top-tier parish earnings

LaSalle Parish median household income of $67,077 exceeds Louisiana's state average by $11,827. The parish ranks at the very top of all Louisiana counties for household earnings.

Regional income leader

LaSalle Parish at $67,077 nearly matches Lafayette Parish ($67,660) and vastly outpaces Jackson Parish ($43,345) by $23,732. The parish demonstrates exceptional economic performance for a rural north-central Louisiana community.

Extraordinary housing affordability

LaSalle Parish residents spend only 10.3% of household income on rent—by far the lowest ratio in this group. This exceptional affordability combined with median home value of $137,200 positions households to save aggressively.

Leverage affordability for wealth

LaSalle Parish households earning $67,077 with just 10.3% rent burden should invest 25% or more of income into retirement accounts, stocks, and real estate. The combination of solid income and ultra-low housing costs creates remarkable wealth-building capacity.

Health in LaSalle Parish

via HealthByCounty

LaSalle Parish lags both benchmarks

At 73.0 years, LaSalle Parish residents live about 1.6 years less than the U.S. average of 71.4 years—and slightly above Louisiana's 72.5-year average by a narrow margin. Over one in five report poor or fair health, a warning sign of preventive care gaps.

Below-average health in rural north

LaSalle Parish's 73.0-year life expectancy sits just barely above Louisiana's 72.5 average, placing it in the lower-middle range statewide. The 22.3% poor/fair health rate suggests rural residents face barriers to preventive care.

Strongest primary care of rural parishes

LaSalle Parish has 54 primary care providers per 100K residents—the highest among rural parishes in this group, though still far below Lafayette's 108. Mental health access at 88 per 100K is the lowest in this cohort, a potential care gap.

Uninsured above state and region

At 8.9% uninsured, LaSalle Parish exceeds Louisiana's 8.1% state average and most neighbors, meaning roughly 1 in 11 residents lack health insurance. Limited mental health providers compound the challenge for uninsured residents with behavioral health needs.

Close LaSalle's coverage gap

LaSalle Parish's 8.9% uninsured rate is among the highest here, and limited mental health providers mean uncovered residents face double barriers. Visit healthcare.gov, call 1-800-318-2596, or contact LaSalle Parish Health Unit to explore Medicaid and marketplace plans.

Schools in LaSalle Parish

via SchoolsByCounty

Small Districts with Big Impact

LaSalle Parish provides a streamlined educational environment with 9 schools serving 2,637 total students. This single-district system focuses on five elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools.

Top-Tier Graduation and Performance

At 97.0%, the graduation rate in LaSalle is one of the highest in Louisiana, easily beating the 87.0% national average. The parish also maintains a high school score of 58.0 with a per-pupil investment of $7,364.

Focused Parish-Wide Management

All students in the county are served by the LaSalle Parish School District, ensuring a unified academic strategy. No charter schools exist in this county, maintaining a traditional community-based school model.

Intimate Rural Learning Environments

Schools here are notably small, with an average enrollment of only 293 students per campus. The largest institution is Jena High School with 529 students, while most schools maintain a quiet, rural or town-centered atmosphere.

Discover a Small-School Sanctuary

If you are looking for small class sizes and high graduation success, LaSalle Parish is an ideal choice. Explore homes in Jena or Olla to benefit from an education system that consistently outperforms the state.

Disaster Risk in LaSalle Parish

via RiskByCounty

LaSalle Parish: Exceptionally Low National Risk

LaSalle Parish scores 12.15 on the composite risk scale, earning a Very Low rating and ranking among America's safest counties for natural disasters. Your parish's inland northeast position shields it from the coastal and storm-system hazards that plague lower Louisiana.

Louisiana's Safest Parish

LaSalle Parish's composite score of 12.15 is the lowest in Louisiana, less than one-fifth the state average of 62.37. Your parish stands as a genuine natural disaster refuge within a state historically battered by major storms and floods.

Safest Spot in Northeast Louisiana

While neighboring Jackson Parish scores 26.18 and Lincoln Parish reaches 64.34, LaSalle Parish at 12.15 offers the lowest overall hazard exposure in the entire northeast region. Your geographic position—far inland and elevated—provides natural protection.

Hurricane Risk Remains Your Baseline

Hurricane risk (65.04) represents LaSalle Parish's highest hazard score, though this reflects only indirect exposure from distant Gulf storms. All other risk categories (flood, wildfire, tornado, earthquake) score well below the state average.

Standard Coverage Meets Your Needs

LaSalle Parish residents can rely on standard homeowners insurance without urgency for specialized flood or named-storm policies, though keeping basic coverage current remains important. Verify your policy covers wind and hail, which account for most residential claims even in low-risk areas.

Weather & Climate in LaSalle Parish

via WeatherByCounty

Warm Temperatures and Heavy Rain

LaSalle Parish averages 65.0°F annually, which is roughly 10 degrees warmer than the national median. The area is also quite wet, recording 58.6 inches of annual precipitation.

Cooler than Southern Louisiana

At 65.0°F, LaSalle is cooler than the Louisiana state average of 67.0°F. It also receives 58.6 inches of rain, which is slightly less than the statewide average of 60.8 inches.

Similar to Northern Neighbors

LaSalle Parish shares a similar climate to Lincoln Parish, which averages 64.8°F. Both parishes sit in the interior of the state, away from the moderating influences of the Gulf of Mexico.

Prolonged Heat and Brief Chills

The parish experiences 83 extreme heat days above 90°F and a summer average of 80.5°F. Winters are cooler than the coast, with a January average of 46.6°F and 0.3 inches of annual snow.

Balance Cooling and Winter Prep

Residents should prepare for 83 days of extreme heat with reliable cooling systems. Because winter temperatures average 48.7°F, seasonal clothing and home insulation are important for the cooler months.

Soil Quality in LaSalle Parish

via SoilByCounty

Acidic upland soils

LaSalle Parish has an average pH of 5.32, making it significantly more acidic than the national median of 6.5. This pH level is also below the Louisiana state average of 5.74, often requiring lime for traditional vegetable gardening.

Balanced loamy soil mix

The soil composition is fairly balanced with 43.3% silt, 33.1% sand, and 23.6% clay. This mixture generally offers a good compromise between drainage speed and nutrient retention for various uses.

Moderate water capacity

With 1.99% organic matter, LaSalle is right at the national average but well below the 6.38% state average. The available water capacity of 0.176 in/in is slightly below the state average of 0.182 in/in.

Variable drainage and flow

The balanced mix of sand and clay suggests moderate drainage capabilities throughout the parish. Without specific hydrologic data, the loamy texture implies the soil is resilient to both compaction and drought.

Resilient gardening in Zone 8b

Zone 8b supports a wide range of hardy vegetables and perennials. Because of the acidic pH, gardeners should test their soil before planting to ensure the best results for their specific crops.

Lawn Care in LaSalle Parish

via LawnByCounty

LaSalle Parish Maintenance Difficulty

LaSalle Parish has a lawn difficulty score of 28.1, indicating a significant challenge for local homeowners compared to the national average. This zone 8b region must contend with more extreme heat than the coastal parishes. Keeping turf healthy here requires a commitment to soil management and drought protection.

Intense Heat and Moderate Rain

Eighty-three extreme heat days and 58.6 inches of rain define the LaSalle climate. The 6,033 growing degree days support a robust growing season that begins in mid-March. This combination of heat and rainfall often leads to rapid grass growth followed by heat-induced stress in mid-summer.

Acidic Soils and Sand Balance

The local soil pH is quite low at 5.32, which can lock up essential nutrients and stunt grass growth. With 33.1% sand and 23.6% clay, the soil has a decent texture but lacks the natural alkalinity needed for many turf varieties. Regular testing and lime applications are vital for maintaining a lush green appearance.

Extreme Drought Resilience Needed

LaSalle is currently under severe drought pressure, with 100% of the parish at D2+ levels. The parish experienced 16 weeks of drought over the past year, making water conservation a top priority for lawn care. Utilizing drought-tolerant species and high-mowing heights can help protect your lawn's crown and roots from the sun.

Starting a Lawn in LaSalle

Bermuda and Zoysia are the most resilient options for LaSalle's heat and current drought conditions. Plan to plant after the last frost on March 19th to ensure the young grass isn't damaged by a late cold snap. The first fall frost usually arrives by November 12th, giving the lawn several months to harden off.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is LaSalle Parish's county score?
LaSalle Parish, Louisiana has a composite county score of 70.9 out of 100 on CountyScore. This score is calculated from a weighted average of available data dimensions including property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools.
How does LaSalle Parish rank among counties in Louisiana?
LaSalle Parish ranks #2 among all counties in Louisiana on CountyScore's composite ranking. Rankings are based on available data dimensions and updated as new data is added.
What are property taxes like in LaSalle Parish, Louisiana?
The median annual property tax in LaSalle Parish is $578, with an effective tax rate of 0.42%. This earns LaSalle Parish a tax score of 92.6/100 on CountyScore (higher = lower taxes).
What is the median household income in LaSalle Parish?
The median household income in LaSalle Parish, Louisiana is $67,077 per year according to U.S. Census Bureau data. LaSalle Parish earns an income score of 59.2/100 on CountyScore.
Is LaSalle Parish, Louisiana a good place to live?
LaSalle Parish scores 70.9/100 on CountyScore's overall county ranking, ranking #2 in Louisiana. The best way to evaluate LaSalle Parish is to compare individual dimension scores — property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools — based on your personal priorities. Use CountyScore to compare LaSalle Parish with other counties side by side.