CountyScore

St. Charles Parish

Louisiana · LA

#50 in Louisiana
66.9
County Score

County Report Card

About St. Charles Parish, Louisiana

St. Charles Parish outperforms national median

St. Charles Parish scores 66.9—nearly 34% above the national median of 50.0—marking it as above-average in livability despite modest composite standing. Its strength lies in income potential and health infrastructure, distinguishing it from purely affordable communities.

Slightly below Louisiana statewide average

St. Charles Parish scores 66.9 versus Louisiana's average of 70.4, ranking in the middle of the state's parishes. While livable, it faces slightly more livability headwinds than top-performing Louisiana communities.

Highest incomes and excellent health scores

St. Charles Parish boasts the highest median household income ($82,172) and highest income score (37.0) in this group, with an exceptional health score of 73.1. These factors reflect a parish positioned to serve higher-income professionals and families.

Housing costs and risk exposure are mounting

Median home values of $256,800 and monthly rent of $1,144 create the highest cost barriers in this group, yielding a cost score of just 68.2. The risk score of 15.0 indicates serious environmental or natural hazard concerns that merit investigation.

Suited to affluent families seeking growth

St. Charles Parish is ideal for higher-earning families or established professionals who value income potential and health outcomes over affordability. The elevated costs and risk factors make it less suitable for budget-first households.

Score breakdown

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

Tax86.1Cost68.2SafetyComing SoonHealth73.1SchoolsComing SoonIncome37Risk15WaterComing Soon
🏛86.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠68.2
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼37
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤73.1
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡15
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. Charles Parish with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Gadsden County
Florida
66.9
Median income: $46,047
Nassau County
Florida
66.9
Median income: $88,900
Emanuel County
Georgia
66.9
Median income: $50,053
Warren County
Illinois
66.9
Median income: $64,650
Delaware County
Indiana
66.9
Median income: $56,932

Deep Dives

St. Charles Parish across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in St. Charles Parish

via TaxByCounty

St. Charles Parish taxes remain moderate

St. Charles Parish residents pay an effective property tax rate of 0.574%, still notably below the national median of 0.955% and in the bottom 30% of U.S. counties. The median property tax of $1,475 annually is approximately 45% below the national median of $2,690.

Among Louisiana's highest tax rates

St. Charles Parish ranks among the highest-taxing parishes in Louisiana with a 0.574% effective rate, well above the state average of 0.421% and in the upper 10% statewide. The median annual tax of $1,475 nearly doubles the state median of $732.

Steepest rate in the southeast cluster

St. Charles Parish's 0.574% rate is the highest in southeast Louisiana, notably exceeding St. James Parish (0.527%) and St. John the Baptist Parish (0.451%). A St. Charles homeowner with the median $256,800 property pays roughly $250 more annually than a comparable St. James resident.

What $256,800 homes cost to own

St. Charles Parish homeowners with the median property value of $256,800 pay approximately $1,475 in annual property taxes at the 0.574% rate, the highest in the southeast region. Including mortgage-related assessments, the total annual bill reaches $1,564.

Review your assessment carefully

With the parish's above-average tax rate, St. Charles residents should carefully review their property assessments for potential overvaluation. An appeal to your assessor costs nothing and could result in significant annual savings on your property tax bill.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in St. Charles Parish

via CostByCounty

St. Charles has state's highest incomes

St. Charles Parish residents enjoy a median household income of $82,172—$7,417 above the national average—making housing more affordable despite higher absolute costs. At 16.7%, the rent-to-income ratio sits comfortably below state and national affordability thresholds, supported by significantly stronger earning power.

Income advantage drives affordability

St. Charles Parish boasts Louisiana's highest median household income at $82,172, enabling residents to absorb higher housing costs while maintaining a 16.7% rent-to-income ratio below the state average. This income strength explains why St. Charles can support median rents of $1,144—the second-highest surveyed—while remaining relatively affordable.

Premium prices, premium incomes

St. Charles rents and home values rival New Orleans-area parishes like St. Bernard and St. John the Baptist, yet the 16.7% rent-to-income ratio beats both due to substantially higher local incomes. St. Charles residents earn roughly $15,000 more annually than neighbors, enabling them to afford higher housing costs comfortably.

High earners, high costs balanced

St. Charles renters spend 16.7% of income on $1,144 monthly rent, while homeowners with $1,270 mortgages allocate 18.6% of income—an unusual reversal where renting is slightly cheaper. The median home value of $256,800 reflects the parish's affluent character and proximity to industrial corridors that support high local wages.

St. Charles rewards higher earners

If your relocation comes with a strong salary, St. Charles Parish offers the most affluent Louisiana community surveyed, with median incomes and home values reflecting economic strength. The 16.7% rent-to-income ratio suggests housing remains manageable for professionals and established households, despite the parish's premium pricing.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in St. Charles Parish

via IncomeByCounty

St. Charles earns 10% above national median

St. Charles Parish's median household income of $82,172 exceeds the U.S. median of $74,755 by roughly $7,400, making it one of Louisiana's strongest-earning parishes. The per capita income of $39,716 significantly outpaces the national average, indicating robust individual wealth generation across the parish.

Louisiana's highest-earning parish in this sample

St. Charles Parish dominates Louisiana's income rankings in this group with a median household income of $82,172, more than $27,000 above the state average of $55,250. The parish's per capita income of $39,716 also substantially exceeds Louisiana's state average of $29,702, marking St. Charles as an economic outlier.

St. Charles far outpaces neighboring parishes

St. Charles Parish's $82,172 median income towersover all comparison parishes, exceeding St. John the Baptist ($67,418) by $14,754 and St. James ($64,536) by $17,636. This significant lead reflects St. Charles's access to petrochemical, industrial, and port-related employment clustered in the greater New Orleans area.

Excellent earnings power meets housing costs

St. Charles Parish's rent-to-income ratio of 16.7% remains healthy and well below the concerning 22.6% observed in St. Bernard Parish. With strong median income and manageable housing costs, St. Charles households enjoy substantial capacity for savings, investments, and quality-of-life spending.

St. Charles families can build serious wealth

St. Charles Parish households earning $82,172 should maximize retirement contributions, diversify into real estate and stock portfolios, and consider wealth-building strategies like tax-advantaged 529 plans. This income level provides St. Charles residents competitive advantage to accumulate generational wealth and retire comfortably.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in St. Charles Parish

via HealthByCounty

St. Charles outpaces nation and state

At 75.3 years, St. Charles Parish residents live within 1.1 years of the U.S. average of 76.4 years—the best performance among Louisiana's 64 parishes. Only 18% report poor or fair health, nearly matching the national rate of 18%, showing St. Charles has cracked the code on health outcomes that other Louisiana communities struggle to achieve.

Louisiana's healthiest parish

St. Charles Parish's 75.3-year life expectancy stands 2.8 years above Louisiana's state average of 72.5 years, making it the clear health leader statewide. The parish also boasts the lowest uninsured rate at 5.5%, well below the state average of 8.1%.

Thriving while neighbors struggle

St. Charles's 75.3 years dramatically outpaces nearby St. John the Baptist Parish (73.6 years), St. James Parish (74.5 years), and all northeast Louisiana parishes. This advantage reflects stronger economic fundamentals, better healthcare infrastructure, and higher educational attainment across the parish.

Best access and lowest uninsurance

St. Charles Parish has the lowest uninsured rate in Louisiana at just 5.5%, with 34 primary care providers and 150 mental health providers per 100,000 residents. This combination of coverage and access creates a virtuous cycle where residents catch disease early and manage chronic conditions effectively.

Protect your health advantage

St. Charles's 5.5% uninsured rate is Louisiana's best, but 1,700 residents still lack coverage—including potentially you or a family member. Check healthcare.gov to confirm your coverage or explore options and maintain your parish's health leadership.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in St. Charles Parish

via RiskByCounty

St. Charles: Louisiana's Riskiest Parish

St. Charles Parish scores 85.05, significantly exceeding the national average and earning a relatively moderate risk rating—the highest composite score in Louisiana. The parish confronts extreme hurricane (95.95) and flood risks (95.40), combining to create exceptional disaster exposure.

Highest Risk in Louisiana

St. Charles Parish ranks as Louisiana's riskiest parish with a composite score of 85.05, 36% above the state average of 62.37. The parish's position directly south of New Orleans along the Mississippi River and Gulf Coast creates unmatched exposure to hurricanes, storm surge, and flooding.

Most Perilous in the Region

St. Charles Parish (85.05) significantly exceeds St. John the Baptist Parish (81.52) to the north and St. James Parish (71.02) to the northwest. Only the southernmost Louisiana coastal parishes rival St. Charles's composite risk score, reflecting its extreme position on the Gulf of Mexico.

Flood and Hurricane Crisis Risks

St. Charles faces North America's highest hurricane risk (95.95) and flood risk (95.40)—both near-maximum values. Tornado risk (77.19) compounds the parish's triple threat, making multi-hazard preparedness non-negotiable for residents.

Mandatory Multi-Layer Protection Plan

St. Charles residents absolutely must carry homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and consider additional wind or hurricane-specific coverage to close gaps. Elevation, storm-resistant retrofits, and regular evacuation planning are life-safety imperatives—consult FEMA's mitigation resources for your specific property.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

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