CountyScore

Plaquemines Parish

Louisiana · LA

#56 in Louisiana
66.2
County Score

County Report Card

About Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana

Plaquemines Parish tops livability nationally

Plaquemines Parish's composite score of 66.2 exceeds the national median of 50.0, placing it in approximately the 39th percentile nationally. The parish distinguishes itself through strong income levels and favorable health outcomes.

Below average for Louisiana parishes

At 66.2, Plaquemines Parish trails Louisiana's state average of 70.4 by about 4 points, ranking it in the lower-middle tier of Louisiana's parishes. It remains competitive despite challenges posed by its coastal geography.

High incomes and strong health metrics shine

Plaquemines Parish leads with an income score of 37.5 and median household income of $82,874—significantly higher than most Louisiana parishes. A health score of 67.5 and tax score of 89.3 (0.462% rate) further strengthen the livability profile.

High housing costs and environmental risk loom

The cost score of 65.0 masks high absolute prices: median home values of $275,800 and median rent of $1,611 monthly strain household budgets. A risk score of 27.1 reflects significant exposure to natural disasters and climate vulnerability.

Best for higher-income families with expertise

Plaquemines Parish suits affluent households and oil/maritime industry professionals comfortable with coastal living and premium real estate costs. Not for budget-conscious households or those seeking environmental stability; best for those with specialized income and risk tolerance.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax89.3Cost65SafetyComing SoonHealth67.5SchoolsComing SoonIncome37.5Risk27.1WaterComing Soon
🏛89.3
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠65
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼37.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤67.5
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡27.1
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Plaquemines Parish with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Benton County
Arkansas
66.2
Median income: $89,879
Phillips County
Arkansas
66.2
Median income: $38,874
Sumter County
Florida
66.2
Median income: $73,297
Carroll County
Georgia
66.2
Median income: $72,327
Queen Anne's County
Maryland
66.2
Median income: $113,347

Deep Dives

Plaquemines Parish across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Plaquemines Parish

via TaxByCounty

Plaquemines Parish taxes well below nation

At 0.462%, Plaquemines Parish's effective tax rate falls in the bottom 25% nationally, significantly lower than typical American counties. The national median property tax is $2,690; Plaquemines homeowners pay $1,275—less than half that amount.

Slightly above state average rate

Plaquemines Parish's 0.462% effective tax rate exceeds Louisiana's state average of 0.421% by roughly 10%, ranking it slightly above the middle of the state's parishes. Despite the higher rate, homeowners here pay $1,275 median tax versus the state median of $732, reflecting moderately higher property values.

Moderate tax burden for south Louisiana

Plaquemines Parish's 0.462% rate sits below Orleans Parish's 0.819% (its New Orleans-area neighbor) and below Ouachita Parish's 0.555%. This positions it as a moderate-tax area within the state.

Median home costs $1,275 yearly in taxes

With a median home value of $275,800 and an effective rate of 0.462%, a typical Plaquemines Parish homeowner pays approximately $1,275 annually in property taxes. For mortgage holders, escrow accounts typically collect $1,438 to cover taxes and related costs.

Review your assessment annually

Plaquemines Parish homeowners should verify their assessed values match recent market sales in their area, since assessments can lag behind actual property trends. Free appeals are available if you believe your home is overvalued relative to comparable properties.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Plaquemines Parish

via CostByCounty

Plaquemines Parish earns top regional income

Plaquemines Parish boasts Louisiana's highest median household income at $82,874—above the national average of $74,755—yet renters still spend 23.3% on a steep $1,611 monthly rent. The parish's energy-sector economy delivers relative affluence, but housing costs keep pace with earnings.

Highest income, moderate affordability rank

Despite leading the state in household income, Plaquemines Parish ranks in the upper-middle tier for affordability burden at 23.3%, reflecting its proximity to New Orleans and coastal energy infrastructure. The parish's $1,611 median rent trails only New Orleans among Louisiana counties.

Premium pricing for coastal access

Plaquemines Parish renters pay $1,611 monthly—$400 more than Ouachita and $846 more than rural Madison—benefiting from the highest incomes in rural Louisiana. However, homeownership remains affordable at $902 monthly, offering relief unavailable in New Orleans's $1,404 owner costs.

Rental premium, ownership value

Renters pay $1,611 monthly while homeowners pay just $902—an unusual dynamic reflecting Plaquemines's coastal desirability and energy economy. Median home values of $275,800 rank second statewide, yet the $902 homeowner payment consumes only 13% of the $82,874 household income.

Plaquemines: renter alert, buyer opportunity

Plaquemines Parish commands Louisiana's highest incomes and offers exceptional homeownership value, but rents rival New Orleans—making it ideal for buyers but challenging for renters. If relocating, prioritize homeownership here to capitalize on the parish's strong income base and attractive property values.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Plaquemines Parish

via IncomeByCounty

Plaquemines Parish outearns national average

Plaquemines Parish households earn $82,874 annually, exceeding the U.S. median of $74,755 by 11%. The parish ranks among Louisiana's highest-income regions, driven largely by petrochemical and energy sector employment.

Louisiana's top-earning parish by far

Plaquemines Parish's median household income of $82,874 outpaces the Louisiana state median of $55,250 by 50%, making it the state's clear income leader. Per capita income of $36,570 also exceeds the state average of $29,702 by 23%.

Far outearns all neighboring parishes

Plaquemines Parish's median household income of $82,874 dramatically exceeds all regional neighbors: Orleans Parish ($55,339), Ouachita Parish ($51,241), and Rapides Parish ($55,946). The parish stands alone as the region's economic powerhouse.

High incomes support premium housing costs

Plaquemines Parish's rent-to-income ratio of 23.3% remains healthy despite median home values of $275,800, among Louisiana's highest. The parish's elevated incomes provide households greater flexibility to afford quality housing.

Maximize wealth with aggressive investment strategy

Plaquemines Parish residents with strong incomes should maximize contributions to retirement accounts, diversify into stock and bond investments, and explore real estate opportunities. Work with financial advisors to develop tax-efficient strategies that protect accumulated wealth against sector-specific economic downturns.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Plaquemines Parish

via HealthByCounty

Plaquemines Parish exceeds national life expectancy

At 75.8 years, Plaquemines Parish has the highest life expectancy among these eight Louisiana parishes—exceeding the U.S. average of 76.4 years by nearly a year. At 21.6% reporting poor or fair health, the parish ranks among the healthiest on this measure, just above the national 18% baseline.

Louisiana's healthiest parish by lifespan

Plaquemines Parish's 75.8-year life expectancy towers 3.3 years above Louisiana's 72.5-year state average, making it the clear health leader in this dataset. At 8.5% uninsured, the parish is slightly above state average, yet manages superior health outcomes, suggesting strong healthcare utilization despite modest insurance gaps.

Highest life expectancy, lowest provider density

Plaquemines Parish paradoxically boasts the longest life expectancy (75.8 years) while having minimal primary care providers (22 per 100K)—the second-lowest among these parishes. Its 192 mental health providers per 100,000 also rank lowest, yet residents still achieve the best longevity, pointing to factors beyond raw provider counts.

Few doctors, exceptional health outcomes

With just 22 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, Plaquemines Parish faces provider scarcity similar to rural neighbors Madison and Morehouse. Despite limited mental health providers at 192 per 100,000, Plaquemines residents achieve Louisiana's longest lifespans—possibly reflecting lower poverty, better lifestyle factors, or strong community health programs.

Maintain coverage despite healthcare distances

Plaquemines Parish's 8.5% uninsured rate suggests room for improvement; ensure you have active insurance despite rural provider challenges. Visit your local clinic or Louisiana's marketplace to secure coverage that includes telehealth options, helping bridge the distance to specialists and routine care.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Plaquemines Parish

via RiskByCounty

Plaquemines Parish: Above National Average Risk

Plaquemines Parish scores 72.93 with a Relatively Low rating, exceeding the national average for composite risk. While labeled low relative to Louisiana, residents face above-average natural disaster exposure by national standards.

Mid-Range Risk Within Louisiana

Plaquemines Parish scores 72.93, sitting above the state average of 62.37 and ranking in the upper-middle range of Louisiana parishes. It faces higher hazard exposure than most of the state but less than the highest-risk areas.

Safer Than Orleans, Riskier Than Most Others

Plaquemines Parish's 72.93 score is substantially lower than Orleans Parish (98.25) but higher than Pointe Coupee Parish (63.07) and other nearby counties. It occupies a distinct risk zone along coastal Louisiana.

Hurricane and Flood Dominate Coastal Exposure

Hurricane risk reaches 94.87 and flood risk sits at 83.00, reflecting Plaquemines Parish's extreme coastal vulnerability. Tornado risk (40.17) remains moderate, while wildfire (20.55) and earthquake (29.55) risks are minimal.

Hurricane and Flood Insurance Critical

Plaquemines Parish residents must carry flood insurance and comprehensive windstorm/hurricane coverage, as standard homeowners policies exclude both perils. Given the 94.87 hurricane risk score, periodic reinforcement of home structure and roof systems is strongly advised.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

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Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.