With a composite score of 74.0, Madison Parish ranks well above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the top 48th percentile nationally. This means the parish offers livability conditions better than nearly half of all U.S. counties, driven primarily by its exceptionally low tax burden and affordable housing market.
2 / 5
Above average among Louisiana parishes
Madison Parish scores 74.0 compared to Louisiana's state average of 70.4, ranking it among the more livable parishes statewide. This performance places it solidly in the upper tier of Louisiana's 64 parishes.
3 / 5
Taxes and affordability are standouts
Madison Parish excels with a tax score of 95.8 and cost score of 90.1, reflecting an effective tax rate of just 0.230% and median home values of $90,600. Renters benefit equally, with median gross rent at just $625 per month—among the lowest in the state.
4 / 5
Income levels lag significantly behind
The parish struggles with an income score of just 7.7, with median household income at $37,267—well below state and national averages. Health outcomes (54.8) and environmental risk factors (67.6) also present opportunities for improvement.
5 / 5
Best for budget-conscious, established residents
Madison Parish suits retirees and lower-income households seeking maximum affordability with minimal tax burden. This is a trade-off community: exceptional financial accessibility in exchange for limited income-earning opportunities and lower health outcomes.
With a composite score of 74.0, Madison Parish ranks well above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the top 48th percentile nationally. This means the parish offers livability conditions better than nearly half of all U.S. counties, driven primarily by its exceptionally low tax burden and affordable housing market.
Above average among Louisiana parishes
Madison Parish scores 74.0 compared to Louisiana's state average of 70.4, ranking it among the more livable parishes statewide. This performance places it solidly in the upper tier of Louisiana's 64 parishes.
Taxes and affordability are standouts
Madison Parish excels with a tax score of 95.8 and cost score of 90.1, reflecting an effective tax rate of just 0.230% and median home values of $90,600. Renters benefit equally, with median gross rent at just $625 per month—among the lowest in the state.
Income levels lag significantly behind
The parish struggles with an income score of just 7.7, with median household income at $37,267—well below state and national averages. Health outcomes (54.8) and environmental risk factors (67.6) also present opportunities for improvement.
Best for budget-conscious, established residents
Madison Parish suits retirees and lower-income households seeking maximum affordability with minimal tax burden. This is a trade-off community: exceptional financial accessibility in exchange for limited income-earning opportunities and lower health outcomes.
Score breakdown
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🏛95.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
At 0.230%, Madison Parish's effective tax rate ranks in the bottom 5% nationally—meaning homeowners here pay significantly less than the typical American county. The national median property tax is $2,690 annually; Madison Parish homeowners pay just $208, placing the parish well below even the lowest-tax regions across the country.
Lowest tax burden in Louisiana
Madison Parish has the lowest effective tax rate among Louisiana's 64 parishes at 0.230%, compared to the state average of 0.421%. Homeowners here pay $208 in median annual taxes versus $732 statewide, saving over $500 per year on a typical property.
Significantly lower than nearby parishes
Madison Parish's 0.230% rate stands well below neighboring Morehouse Parish (0.430%) and Ouachita Parish (0.555%). Even compared to other rural Louisiana parishes, Madison Parish residents enjoy the state's most favorable tax environment.
Median home costs just $208 yearly
With a median home value of $90,600 and an effective rate of 0.230%, a typical Madison Parish homeowner pays about $208 annually in property taxes. For those with a mortgage, escrow accounts typically collect $384 to cover insurance and other costs alongside the property tax bill.
Still worth checking your assessment
Even in Louisiana's lowest-tax parish, homeowners should verify their property assessment is accurate—overassessments can happen anywhere. If your home's assessed value seems high compared to recent sales in your neighborhood, filing an appeal costs nothing and could lower your tax bill further.
Renters in Madison Parish spend 20.1% of their income on housing, slightly above the national norm but reflecting a median income of just $37,267—roughly half the U.S. average of $74,755. At $625 per month, the median rent is substantially lower than the national typical, yet it consumes a disproportionate share of local earnings.
Better than average for Louisiana
Madison Parish's 20.1% rent-to-income ratio edges out Louisiana's state average of 19.5%, placing it in the middle tier of the state's 64 parishes. The median rent of $625 undercuts the state average of $873, offering relative affordability within Louisiana's context.
More affordable than nearby Morehouse
Madison Parish renters enjoy a $170 monthly advantage over nearby Morehouse Parish, where rent runs $795—a difference that saves roughly $2,040 annually. Despite lower median incomes across both parishes, Madison's rent burden sits noticeably lighter than its struggling neighbor to the east.
Housing costs by the numbers
Renters spend $625 monthly while homeowners pay $477, meaning housing takes 20.1% of the typical household's $37,267 annual income. The median home value of $90,600 remains accessible, though earning power here lags significantly behind state and national averages.
Considering Madison Parish? Know the trade-off
Madison Parish offers genuine rental affordability—among Louisiana's lowest—but comes with lower median incomes that offset the cost advantage. Compare this to nearby parishes and state alternatives to weigh whether lower housing costs align with available local employment and income opportunities.
Madison Parish households earn a median of $37,267 annually, roughly 50% less than the U.S. median of $74,755. This significant gap reflects economic challenges that many rural Louisiana parishes face compared to the nation's broader economic growth.
Below-average income within Louisiana
At $37,267, Madison Parish ranks among Louisiana's lowest-income parishes, falling 32% below the state median of $55,250. The parish's per capita income of $19,086 also trails the state average of $29,702 by 36%.
Lowest-earning parish in its region
Madison Parish's median household income of $37,267 lags neighboring Morehouse Parish ($36,981) and significantly trails Natchitoches Parish ($46,798). The parish faces greater income constraints than most surrounding areas in northeastern Louisiana.
Rent remains affordable despite low wages
At 20.1%, Madison Parish's rent-to-income ratio sits within healthy territory—well below the 30% affordability threshold. However, the low baseline income means households still face tight budgets even with relatively affordable housing costs.
Build financial stability from the ground up
Residents should prioritize establishing emergency savings accounts covering 3–6 months of expenses, crucial when household incomes are tight. Consider low-cost investment options like employer 401(k) plans or IRA accounts to compound wealth over time, even with modest contributions.
At 70.3 years, Madison Parish residents live roughly 6 years less than the U.S. average of 76.4 years. Nearly one in three residents (32.5%) report poor or fair health, well above the national rate of 18%. This health gap reflects deeper economic and healthcare access challenges facing the parish.
Below Louisiana's own health average
Madison Parish's 70.3-year life expectancy falls 2.2 years short of Louisiana's 72.5-year state average. The parish ranks in the lower half of Louisiana counties on health outcomes, though its uninsured rate of 6.9% is better than the state average of 8.1%.
Healthier than Morehouse, behind Natchitoches
Madison Parish outperforms neighboring Morehouse Parish (68.2 years life expectancy) but trails Natchitoches Parish (70.4 years). With 20 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, Madison has fewer doctors than Natchitoches (54 per 100K), though better mental health provider access at 876 per 100K.
Few primary doctors, mental health support strong
Just 20 primary care providers per 100,000 residents means patients often travel far for routine care or preventive checkups. However, mental health providers are abundant at 876 per 100,000—one of the state's highest rates—reflecting significant investment in behavioral health services.
Check your health insurance options today
With 6.9% of residents uninsured, many Madison Parish families qualify for coverage they don't know about. Visit your local community health center or Louisiana's health insurance marketplace to explore Medicaid, marketplace plans, and employer options that fit your budget.
Madison Parish scores 32.44 on the composite risk scale, earning a Very Low rating and sitting far below the national average. This places the parish among the lowest-risk counties in the country, meaning residents face significantly fewer natural disaster threats than most Americans.
Safest Parish in Louisiana
With a score of 32.44, Madison Parish is the lowest-risk county in Louisiana, well below the state average of 62.37. No other Louisiana parish comes close to this level of natural disaster protection.
Isolated Advantage in Northeast
Madison Parish's 32.44 score stands apart from nearby Morehouse Parish (55.28) and Ouachita Parish (87.50), making it an exceptional pocket of low risk in northeast Louisiana. Neighboring counties face substantially higher tornado, earthquake, and hurricane threats.
Tornado and Hurricane Remain Top Concerns
Even in low-risk Madison Parish, tornado risk scores 71.91 and hurricane risk reaches 69.63—modest compared to other parishes but still meaningful for residents. Flood risk remains minimal at 17.97, and wildfire risk is negligible at 4.90.
Basic Coverage Sufficient for Madison Parish
While tornado and hurricane risks exist, Madison Parish's overall low-risk profile means standard homeowners insurance typically provides adequate protection. Residents should still verify windstorm coverage for the tornado and hurricane threats that do exist in the parish.