CountyScore

St. Bernard Parish

Louisiana · LA

#55 in Louisiana
66.3
County Score

County Report Card

About St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana

St. Bernard Parish exceeds national livability standard

St. Bernard Parish's composite score of 66.3 is 33% above the national median of 50.0, qualifying it as a solid livability performer. Though lower than some parishes in this group, it still ranks above typical U.S. counties.

Slightly below Louisiana average

St. Bernard Parish scores 66.3 compared to Louisiana's average of 70.4, placing it in the middle tier statewide. The parish is livable but faces more headwinds than leading Louisiana communities.

Highest incomes and strong health outcomes

St. Bernard Parish leads this group in median household income at $57,638, with an income score of 21.0. Its health score of 61.0 and tax score of 88.0 provide additional stability for working families seeking earning potential.

Rising costs and critical risk exposure

Housing costs have climbed—median home values of $192,100 and monthly rent of $1,083 are among the highest here, with a cost score of just 75.8. The risk score of 24.4 signals serious environmental or natural hazard exposure that warrants careful consideration.

Best for higher-income families near New Orleans

St. Bernard Parish suits established families or professionals with moderate-to-higher incomes who can absorb higher housing costs. It offers the best of both worlds: decent paychecks and reasonable tax rates, despite elevated risk factors.

Score breakdown

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

Tax88Cost75.8SafetyComing SoonHealth61SchoolsComing SoonIncome21Risk24.4WaterComing Soon
🏛88
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠75.8
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼21
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤61
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡24.4
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 St. Bernard Parish with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Lassen County
California
66.3
Median income: $64,395
Screven County
Georgia
66.3
Median income: $53,017
Shiawassee County
Michigan
66.3
Median income: $64,464
Lowndes County
Mississippi
66.3
Median income: $54,460
Sharkey County
Mississippi
66.3
Median income: $35,741

Deep Dives

St. Bernard Parish across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in St. Bernard Parish

via TaxByCounty

St. Bernard Parish below national average

St. Bernard Parish has an effective property tax rate of 0.508%, lower than the national median of 0.955% and placing the parish in the bottom 25% of U.S. counties by tax burden. The median property tax of $976 annually remains substantially below the national median of $2,690.

Above average for Louisiana parishes

St. Bernard Parish's 0.508% rate exceeds Louisiana's state average of 0.421%, ranking it in the upper-middle tier of the state's 64 parishes. At $976 median annual tax, homeowners pay roughly $244 more than the state median of $732.

Moderate rate for southeast Louisiana

St. Bernard Parish's 0.508% rate is higher than St. John the Baptist Parish (0.451%) and lower than St. Charles Parish (0.574%), positioning it in the middle of the southeast Louisiana corridor. A St. Bernard homeowner with the median $192,100 property pays about $100 more annually than a St. John homeowner with the same value.

What $192,100 homes cost to own

The typical St. Bernard Parish homeowner with a median-valued property of $192,100 pays approximately $976 in annual property taxes at the 0.508% rate. With mortgage and assessment fees, that annual bill reaches $1,007.

Appeal overassessments to lower your tax

Many St. Bernard Parish residents pay taxes on inflated property values, particularly in areas recovering from past damage or undergoing market shifts. Filing a reassessment appeal with your assessor can reveal whether your home is overvalued and help reduce your annual tax burden.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in St. Bernard Parish

via CostByCounty

St. Bernard rents strain household budgets

St. Bernard Parish renters spend 22.6% of income on housing—well above the state average of 19.5% and near the federal affordability crisis threshold of 30%. With median rent of $1,083 against a median household income of $57,638, St. Bernard presents genuine affordability challenges for renters despite higher incomes than many rural parishes.

Louisiana's least affordable rental market

St. Bernard Parish ranks among Louisiana's least affordable parishes for renters, with a 22.6% rent-to-income ratio significantly above the state average of 19.5%. Median rent of $1,083 tops the parishes surveyed, reflecting the parish's proximity to New Orleans and stronger housing demand.

Rents spike closer to New Orleans

St. Bernard's median rent of $1,083 exceeds neighboring parishes by $200+ monthly, with only St. John the Baptist Parish approaching these price points at $1,118. The proximity to New Orleans metro creates rental competition that drives St. Bernard costs well above rural Louisiana averages.

Homeownership offers modest relief

St. Bernard renters allocate 22.6% of income to housing, while homeowners spending $850 monthly claim 17.7% of income—a $233 gap favoring purchase. Though the median home value of $192,100 is highest among these parishes, the homeownership savings justify the higher purchase price for budget-conscious households.

St. Bernard requires stronger finances

St. Bernard Parish suits relocators with above-average incomes seeking New Orleans-area proximity, but budget-conscious renters should compare the 22.6% rental burden against more affordable parishes. Buyers with down payment capacity will find homeownership offers meaningful monthly savings versus rent in this higher-cost area.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in St. Bernard Parish

via IncomeByCounty

St. Bernard earns 23% below national level

St. Bernard Parish's median household income of $57,638 lags the U.S. median of $74,755 by roughly $17,000, a significant gap that persists despite the parish's proximity to New Orleans. The parish's per capita income of $29,478 sits slightly above the national average, indicating some wealth concentration among fewer residents.

St. Bernard above-average for Louisiana

St. Bernard Parish's median household income of $57,638 exceeds Louisiana's state average of $55,250 by about $2,400, placing it in the upper-middle tier of parish incomes. The per capita income of $29,478 slightly underperforms the state average of $29,702, suggesting relatively distributed earnings across households.

St. Bernard edges out St. Helena and Richland

St. Bernard Parish's $57,638 median income surpasses St. Helena Parish ($50,193) and Richland Parish ($52,960), though it trails stronger parishes like St. James ($64,536) and St. John the Baptist ($67,418). These variations reflect St. Bernard's position as a moderate earner within the greater New Orleans metro region.

Rising housing costs strain budgets

St. Bernard Parish faces a concerning rent-to-income ratio of 22.6%—the highest among these eight parishes—with renters spending nearly one-quarter of income on housing. While median household income is solid, this elevated housing burden limits households' ability to save and invest for the future.

Reduce housing burden, increase savings rate

St. Bernard Parish households earning $57,638 should aggressively negotiate lower rents or explore home purchases to escape the 22.6% housing-cost burden. By reducing housing costs to below 20% of income, families free up $500-700 annually to redirect toward retirement savings and wealth-building investments.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in St. Bernard Parish

via HealthByCounty

St. Bernard inches closer to national health

At 73.2 years, St. Bernard Parish residents live 3.2 years less than the U.S. average of 76.4 years, performing slightly better than many Louisiana peers. With 25.9% reporting poor or fair health—43% above the national rate—the parish still faces significant health disparities despite its relative advantage.

Above average for Louisiana parishes

St. Bernard's 73.2-year life expectancy edges above Louisiana's 72.5-year state average, placing it in the upper half of parish health rankings. This modest advantage reflects better economic conditions and healthcare infrastructure than many rural Louisiana communities.

Health leader in southeast Louisiana

St. Bernard's 73.2 years ranks below St. Charles Parish (75.3 years) but well above Red River (71.6) and Richland (71.5) parishes. As part of the New Orleans metro area, St. Bernard benefits from proximity to urban healthcare resources and a stronger economic base than rural neighbors.

Moderate uninsurance, limited primary care

St. Bernard's uninsured rate of 9.0% exceeds the state average of 8.1%, with only 25 primary care providers per 100,000 residents to serve those with insurance. Mental health capacity is solid at 328 providers per 100,000, reflecting strong community mental health infrastructure.

Reduce risk—get insured today

With 9.0% of St. Bernard Parish uninsured, securing health coverage is your best defense against unexpected illness and expense. Check your eligibility for Medicaid or marketplace plans at healthcare.gov—coverage could start in days.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in St. Bernard Parish

via RiskByCounty

St. Bernard: High Risk, Hurricane-Prone

St. Bernard Parish scores 75.60, well above the national average, driven largely by exceptional hurricane risk (95.54) and severe flood vulnerability (74.40). The parish's coastal position near New Orleans exposes it to tropical systems, storm surge, and extended hurricane damage.

Top Tier of Louisiana Risk

St. Bernard Parish ranks among Louisiana's highest-risk parishes with a composite score of 75.60, exceeding the state average of 62.37 by 21%. Only the southernmost coastal parishes and St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes face comparable or greater disaster exposure.

Coastal Risk Hotspot

St. Bernard Parish (75.60) exceeds all northern parishes but falls slightly below the extreme risk profiles of St. Charles (85.05) and St. John the Baptist (81.52). The parish's southeastern location puts it directly in the path of hurricanes approaching the Mississippi River delta and Gulf Coast.

Hurricane and Flood Dominate

Hurricane risk (95.54) and flood risk (74.40) are St. Bernard's defining hazards, reflecting the parish's proximity to the coast and Mississippi River. Tornado risk (50.89) adds a secondary but significant concern during severe weather seasons.

Critical: Flood and Hurricane Coverage

St. Bernard residents must carry both standard homeowners insurance and a separate flood policy, as standard homeowners policies exclude flood damage. Elevating homes, installing storm shutters, and reinforcing roofs are essential investments; consider wind mitigation inspections to lower insurance premiums.

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.