Rapides Parish scores 66.6, exceeding the national median of 50.0 and placing it in approximately the 41st percentile nationally. The parish provides accessible livability through balanced tax efficiency and housing affordability.
2 / 5
Slightly below Louisiana's parish average
At 66.6, Rapides Parish trails Louisiana's state average of 70.4 by about 3.8 points, placing it in the lower-middle range among Louisiana's parishes. It remains a solid middle-ground option within the state.
3 / 5
Balanced taxes and housing affordability prevail
Rapides Parish offers a tax score of 86.2 (0.572% effective rate) and cost score of 79.2, with median home values of $179,100 and monthly rent at $942. Health score of 62.7 indicates respectable healthcare infrastructure for a mid-sized parish.
4 / 5
Income potential and environmental risk lag
The income score of 19.9 with median household income of $55,946 reflects limited wage advancement opportunities. A risk score of 15.7 suggests moderate economic or environmental vulnerability.
5 / 5
Right for working families seeking stability
Rapides Parish suits working families and established households seeking reasonable housing costs, low taxes, and adequate services without premium living expenses. Best for those valuing community stability and convenience over rapid income growth or cutting-edge amenities.
Rapides Parish scores 66.6, exceeding the national median of 50.0 and placing it in approximately the 41st percentile nationally. The parish provides accessible livability through balanced tax efficiency and housing affordability.
Slightly below Louisiana's parish average
At 66.6, Rapides Parish trails Louisiana's state average of 70.4 by about 3.8 points, placing it in the lower-middle range among Louisiana's parishes. It remains a solid middle-ground option within the state.
Balanced taxes and housing affordability prevail
Rapides Parish offers a tax score of 86.2 (0.572% effective rate) and cost score of 79.2, with median home values of $179,100 and monthly rent at $942. Health score of 62.7 indicates respectable healthcare infrastructure for a mid-sized parish.
Income potential and environmental risk lag
The income score of 19.9 with median household income of $55,946 reflects limited wage advancement opportunities. A risk score of 15.7 suggests moderate economic or environmental vulnerability.
Right for working families seeking stability
Rapides Parish suits working families and established households seeking reasonable housing costs, low taxes, and adequate services without premium living expenses. Best for those valuing community stability and convenience over rapid income growth or cutting-edge amenities.
Score breakdown
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🏛86.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
At 0.572%, Rapides Parish's effective tax rate places it in the bottom 30% nationally, meaningfully lower than the typical U.S. county. The national median property tax is $2,690; Rapides homeowners pay $1,024—less than 40% of that national benchmark.
Above state average, upper-tier for Louisiana
Rapides Parish's 0.572% effective tax rate exceeds Louisiana's state average of 0.421% by roughly 35%, ranking it in the upper third of the state's parishes. Homeowners pay $1,024 median tax versus the state median of $732, roughly $292 more annually.
Higher than most surrounding parishes
Rapides Parish's 0.572% rate exceeds nearby Pointe Coupee Parish (0.281%) and surpasses most other rural Louisiana parishes. It falls below only Orleans Parish's 0.819% among the counties measured here.
Median home costs $1,024 yearly in taxes
With a median home value of $179,100 and an effective rate of 0.572%, a typical Rapides Parish homeowner pays approximately $1,024 annually in property taxes. Including escrow for mortgages, annual payments rise to about $1,278.
Challenge overvaluations through appeals
Rapides Parish homeowners should compare their assessed value to recent comparable home sales in their neighborhood; if values are higher, a free assessment appeal can reduce annual taxes. Even modest reductions in assessed value add up to meaningful savings over time.
Rapides Parish renters spend 20.2% of their $55,946 income on housing—slightly above Louisiana's 19.5% average but manageable compared to national stress—paying $942 monthly in rent. The parish's median income sits meaningfully above most Louisiana rural counties, supporting a workable housing balance.
Slightly above Louisiana average
Rapides Parish's 20.2% rent-to-income ratio places it marginally above the state average, ranking in the lower-middle tier of Louisiana's 64 parishes for affordability pressure. The $942 median rent exceeds state average by $69, reflecting Rapides's role as a regional hub with population draw.
Balanced regional positioning
Rapides Parish renters pay $942 monthly—$175 more than Pointe Coupee but $269 less than Orleans—while earning a solid $55,946 locally. The parish sits comfortably in the regional middle ground, offering stability between isolated rural areas and urban premium pricing.
Sustainable housing-to-income mix
Renters allocate $942 monthly while homeowners pay $798, combining for a manageable 20.2% of the $55,946 median household income. Median home values of $179,100 provide reasonable entry points for buyers seeking to transition from renting.
Rapides Parish offers stable middle ground
Rapides Parish balances modest affordability pressure with solid regional incomes and mid-tier housing costs, making it a practical choice for those seeking stability without rural isolation. Consider Rapides if you value a mid-sized parish community with reasonable housing economics and above-average local earning power.
Rapides Parish households earn $55,946 annually, approximately 25% below the U.S. median of $74,755. The parish matches Louisiana's state median but lags national prosperity benchmarks.
Slightly above Louisiana's state median
At $55,946, Rapides Parish's median household income exceeds Louisiana's state median of $55,250 by 1%, placing it at the state average. Per capita income of $31,688 edges above the state average of $29,702 by 7%.
Mid-tier earner in central Louisiana
Rapides Parish's median household income of $55,946 matches Orleans Parish ($55,339) closely and exceeds Ouachita Parish ($51,241), but trails Pointe Coupee Parish ($59,351). The parish holds steady as a regional middle performer.
Housing costs remain manageable statewide
Rapides Parish's rent-to-income ratio of 20.2% falls well below the 30% affordability threshold, indicating sustainable housing costs. Median home values of $179,100 remain accessible for median-income households pursuing homeownership.
Build wealth through consistent financial planning
Rapides Parish residents should establish monthly budgets and redirect even small surpluses toward employer-sponsored retirement plans and emergency savings. Explore low-cost index funds and compound interest strategies to grow wealth steadily over decades.
At 70.5 years, Rapides Parish life expectancy falls 5.9 years short of the U.S. average of 76.4 years. With 22.6% reporting poor or fair health—above the national 18% baseline—Rapides faces above-average health burdens that threaten longevity and quality of life.
Below Louisiana average but not among worst
Rapides Parish's 70.5-year life expectancy sits 2 years below Louisiana's 72.5-year state average, placing it in the lower tier of Louisiana parishes. At 7.9% uninsured, Rapides is nearly at the state average of 8.1%, indicating typical insurance enrollment challenges for the state.
Moderate providers, strong mental health services
Rapides Parish's 84 primary care providers per 100,000 residents match Ouachita Parish and significantly exceed rural parishes like Pointe Coupee (30) and Morehouse (24). Mental health providers at 589 per 100,000 rank among the strongest in this dataset, suggesting robust psychiatric and counseling infrastructure supporting residents' behavioral health.
Reasonable primary care, strong mental health care
With 84 primary care providers per 100,000 residents, Rapides Parish offers moderate physician access for routine medical needs and chronic disease management. Mental health services are a strength at 589 providers per 100,000, giving residents solid access to counseling, therapy, and psychiatric care.
Secure insurance and use available care
Rapides Parish's 7.9% uninsured rate means 1 in 12 residents lack coverage; ensure you're enrolled in Medicaid or marketplace plans. With strong mental health infrastructure, insured residents should take advantage of available counseling and preventive services—particularly screenings for chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
Rapides Parish scores 84.29 with a Relatively Moderate rating, substantially exceeding the national average for composite risk. Residents face considerably higher natural disaster exposure than most Americans.
High-Risk Parish in Louisiana
Rapides Parish scores 84.29, ranking third-highest in Louisiana and 22 points above the state average of 62.37. It's among the state's most hazard-exposed communities, second only to Orleans and Ouachita parishes.
Riskiest in Central Louisiana Region
Rapides Parish's 84.29 score substantially exceeds nearby Pointe Coupee Parish (63.07) and Natchitoches Parish (56.39), making it a risk hotspot in central Louisiana. Only Ouachita Parish (87.50) carries higher exposure in the surrounding area.
Wildfire and Tornado Threats Mount
Wildfire risk reaches 78.02—substantially elevated—while tornado risk scores 68.70 and hurricane risk peaks at 90.61. Additional concerns include flood risk (82.22) and earthquake risk (73.66), creating a multi-hazard exposure profile.
Wildfire, Wind, and Flood Coverage Required
Rapides Parish residents should verify wildfire coverage (often excluded from standard policies) and ensure windstorm protection for tornado and hurricane damage. Flood insurance is critical given the 82.22 flood risk score, and home hardening measures addressing vegetation and defensible space are strongly advised.