Morehouse Parish's composite score of 69.2 exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in approximately the 46th percentile nationally. The parish demonstrates solid livability fundamentals, particularly in tax and housing affordability.
2 / 5
Slightly below Louisiana's median parish
At 69.2, Morehouse Parish falls just shy of Louisiana's state average of 70.4, placing it in the middle-to-upper range among the state's 64 parishes. It remains a competent performer within the statewide livability landscape.
3 / 5
Low taxes and budget-friendly housing shine
Morehouse Parish boasts a tax score of 90.2 with an effective rate of 0.430% and a cost score of 86.4 with median home values of $108,700. Renters pay $795 monthly on average, maintaining strong affordability across housing types.
4 / 5
Risk and income present structural limits
The parish's risk score of 44.7 signals environmental or economic vulnerability concerns, while the income score of 7.5 reflects a median household income of just $36,981. Health outcomes at 54.0 also suggest wellness challenges worthy of attention.
5 / 5
Ideal for cost-conscious families seeking stability
Morehouse Parish appeals to families and individuals prioritizing affordability and low taxes over income growth. Strong for those with fixed incomes or seeking a quiet, economical rural base.
Morehouse Parish's composite score of 69.2 exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in approximately the 46th percentile nationally. The parish demonstrates solid livability fundamentals, particularly in tax and housing affordability.
Slightly below Louisiana's median parish
At 69.2, Morehouse Parish falls just shy of Louisiana's state average of 70.4, placing it in the middle-to-upper range among the state's 64 parishes. It remains a competent performer within the statewide livability landscape.
Low taxes and budget-friendly housing shine
Morehouse Parish boasts a tax score of 90.2 with an effective rate of 0.430% and a cost score of 86.4 with median home values of $108,700. Renters pay $795 monthly on average, maintaining strong affordability across housing types.
Risk and income present structural limits
The parish's risk score of 44.7 signals environmental or economic vulnerability concerns, while the income score of 7.5 reflects a median household income of just $36,981. Health outcomes at 54.0 also suggest wellness challenges worthy of attention.
Ideal for cost-conscious families seeking stability
Morehouse Parish appeals to families and individuals prioritizing affordability and low taxes over income growth. Strong for those with fixed incomes or seeking a quiet, economical rural base.
Score breakdown
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🏛90.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
At 0.430%, Morehouse Parish's effective tax rate places it in the bottom 15% nationally, well below the typical American county. The national median property tax is $2,690; Morehouse homeowners pay $467, less than one-fifth that amount.
Slightly above state average rate
Morehouse Parish's 0.430% effective tax rate nearly matches Louisiana's state average of 0.421%, ranking it around the middle of the state's parishes. Despite the similar rate, Morehouse homeowners pay $467 median tax versus the state median of $732 due to lower property values.
More moderate than surrounding parishes
Morehouse Parish's 0.430% rate sits between Madison Parish's 0.230% (the state's lowest) and Natchitoches Parish's 0.470%. This positions it as a moderate-tax area within the rural northeast Louisiana region.
Median home costs $467 yearly in taxes
With a median home value of $108,700 and an effective rate of 0.430%, a typical Morehouse Parish homeowner pays about $467 annually in property taxes. Including escrow for mortgage holders, annual payments rise to approximately $675.
Review your assessment for potential savings
Many Morehouse Parish homeowners are likely unaware they can appeal their property assessment free of charge if they believe it's overvalued. Even a modest reduction in assessed value can yield annual tax savings without affecting the rate itself.
Renters here dedicate 25.8% of their income to housing—well above the national affordability threshold and Louisiana's 19.5% average—while earning just $36,981 annually versus the U.S. median of $74,755. At $795 monthly, Morehouse rent is still below national norms, but income constraints make it painfully unaffordable.
Among Louisiana's least affordable parishes
Morehouse Parish ranks among the state's worst for affordability, with its 25.8% rent-to-income ratio placing it in the bottom tier of Louisiana's 64 parishes. Only a handful of parishes force renters to devote more income to housing than Morehouse does.
Worst case among local peers
Morehouse Parish renters spend $170 more monthly than Madison Parish renters, yet earn nearly identical incomes, creating the parish's acute affordability crisis. The $795 rent translates to a crushing 25.8% of household income—significantly worse than neighboring alternatives.
The affordability crunch
Renters allocate $795 monthly while homeowners pay $506, consuming 25.8% of the $36,981 median household income for renters alone. With a median home value of $108,700, homeownership offers modest relief but requires capital most residents lack.
Morehouse housing: affordability warning
While rents appear modest in absolute dollars, Morehouse Parish's low incomes create one of Louisiana's worst affordability situations for renters. Prospective residents should carefully assess local employment prospects before relocating, as housing costs here demand an outsized income share.
Morehouse Parish households earn $36,981 annually, approximately 50% below the U.S. median household income of $74,755. The parish ranks among the lowest-income counties nationwide, reflecting persistent economic headwinds in rural Louisiana.
Struggling below Louisiana's state average
Morehouse Parish's median household income of $36,981 falls 33% short of Louisiana's state median of $55,250. Per capita income of $24,038 also trails the state average by 19%, indicating uneven income distribution across the parish.
Lowest income among neighboring parishes
At $36,981, Morehouse Parish edges out Madison Parish ($37,267) as the region's lowest earner but falls well below Natchitoches Parish at $46,798. The parish faces steeper economic challenges than most surrounding areas.
Housing costs stretch tight household budgets
Morehouse Parish's rent-to-income ratio of 25.8% approaches the 30% affordability threshold, signaling that housing costs consume a substantial share of already-limited incomes. Homeownership remains challenging, with median home values of $108,700 requiring significant savings.
Start small with accessible financial tools
Residents should explore no-cost or low-cost financial counseling through nonprofit organizations to build debt management and savings strategies. Even modest monthly contributions to savings accounts compound over time and create a foundation for future investments and financial security.
At 68.2 years, Morehouse Parish has the lowest life expectancy among these eight Louisiana counties—over 8 years below the U.S. average of 76.4 years. Three in ten residents (30.3%) report poor or fair health, nearly double the national average of 18%.
Among Louisiana's lowest-ranked parishes
Morehouse Parish's 68.2-year life expectancy ranks among the weakest in Louisiana, falling 4.3 years below the state average of 72.5 years. At 7.9% uninsured, the parish is nearly at the state average of 8.1%, meaning one in 12 residents lacks health coverage.
Significantly behind nearby parishes
Morehouse Parish trails Madison Parish by nearly 2 years in life expectancy (70.3 years) and Natchitoches Parish by over 2 years (70.4 years). With just 24 primary care providers per 100,000 residents and 401 mental health providers, Morehouse has fewer healthcare workers than all neighboring counties measured.
Severe shortage of doctors, mental health care
At 24 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, Morehouse has the fewest doctors among these parishes, making routine care difficult to access. Mental health providers total just 401 per 100,000—less than half the state's best-served areas—limiting treatment for depression and other behavioral health conditions.
Your health insurance matters—explore options
With 7.9% uninsured, Morehouse residents should check if Medicaid expansion covers them or if marketplace insurance is affordable. Call 211 Louisiana or visit Louisiana.gov/dhh to learn about coverage options designed to help families access preventive care and manage chronic conditions.
Morehouse Parish scores 55.28 with a Relatively Low rating, running below the national average for composite risk. This means residents face fewer natural disaster threats than most Americans, though not as protected as some other regions.
Mid-Range Risk Within Louisiana
Morehouse Parish ranks in the middle range of Louisiana counties at 55.28, below the state average of 62.37. It's safer than most parishes but carries more risk than a handful of the state's lowest-risk areas.
Moderate Risk in Northeast Louisiana
Morehouse Parish's 55.28 score positions it between the safest parish (Madison at 32.44) and higher-risk neighbors like Ouachita (87.50). The parish faces notably higher flood, earthquake, and wildfire threats than Madison Parish.
Earthquake Risk Dominates Morehouse
Earthquake risk leads at 74.52, followed by tornado risk at 68.45 and hurricane risk at 68.17—all elevated compared to national baselines. Flood risk is substantial at 59.45, with wildfire risk at 48.25 rounding out the concern list.
Earthquake Coverage Becomes Essential Here
Morehouse Parish's elevated earthquake risk (74.52) makes specialized earthquake insurance worth considering, as standard policies exclude seismic events. Homeowners should also ensure windstorm and flood coverage are included given the combined tornado, hurricane, and flood exposure.