CountyScore

St. Helena Parish

Louisiana · LA

#19 in Louisiana
73
County Score

County Report Card

About St. Helena Parish, Louisiana

St. Helena Parish ranks well above national baseline

St. Helena Parish's composite score of 73.0 is 46% above the national median of 50.0, placing it firmly in the top half of U.S. counties. This reflects strong affordability and low-tax fundamentals.

St. Helena ranks among Louisiana's best

St. Helena Parish scores 73.0 compared to Louisiana's average of 70.4, qualifying as an above-average parish statewide. It consistently ranks among the state's more livable communities.

Excellent tax and housing affordability

St. Helena Parish delivers a tax score of 90.4 (effective rate 0.421%) and cost score of 87.4, with median home values of just $106,400 and rent at $802 per month. This combination creates genuine financial relief for cost-conscious households.

Modest income and health metrics

Median household income of $50,193 yields an income score of only 16.2, lagging wealthier parishes. Health outcomes (58.5) are below some peers and suggest room for healthcare investment and access improvements.

Perfect for retirees and remote workers

St. Helena Parish is tailor-made for retirees on fixed incomes, remote workers, and cost-conscious families seeking maximum purchasing power. Low taxes and affordable housing dominate the livability equation here.

Score breakdown

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

Tax90.4Cost87.4SafetyComing SoonHealth58.5SchoolsComing SoonIncome16.2Risk63.7WaterComing Soon
🏛90.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠87.4
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼16.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤58.5
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡63.7
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. Helena Parish with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Conecuh County
Alabama
73
Median income: $42,266
Drew County
Arkansas
73
Median income: $41,071
Madison County
Arkansas
73
Median income: $53,888
Cherokee County
Iowa
73
Median income: $64,478
Spencer County
Kentucky
73
Median income: $98,333

Deep Dives

St. Helena Parish across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in St. Helena Parish

via TaxByCounty

St. Helena taxes well below national norm

St. Helena Parish has an effective property tax rate of 0.421%, placing it below the national median of 0.955% and in the bottom 20% of U.S. counties. The median annual property tax of $448 is roughly 83% lower than the national median of $2,690.

Exactly at Louisiana's state average

St. Helena Parish's 0.421% effective rate matches Louisiana's state average exactly, making it representative of the typical tax burden across the state's 64 parishes. The median annual tax of $448 is $284 below the state median of $732, reflecting the parish's lower median home value.

Low-tax option in south-central region

St. Helena Parish's 0.421% rate is lower than St. James Parish (0.527%) and St. John the Baptist Parish (0.451%), making it one of the more affordable parishes in the south-central corridor. A St. Helena homeowner with a $106,400 property pays roughly $150 less annually than a St. James resident with the same value.

What $106,400 homes cost to own

The typical St. Helena Parish homeowner with a median-valued property of $106,400 pays approximately $448 in annual property taxes at the 0.421% rate. With mortgage and assessment fees included, that bill rises to $800 per year.

Confirm your valuation is fair

Even at Louisiana's average tax rate, St. Helena residents can benefit from reviewing their property assessments for accuracy. If your home's assessed value exceeds local market comparables, an assessor appeal could reduce your annual tax obligation.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in St. Helena Parish

via CostByCounty

St. Helena rents align with state norms

St. Helena Parish renters spend 19.2% of income on housing, nearly matching the Louisiana state average of 19.5%, reflecting typical rural parish affordability challenges. With median rent of $802 and household income of $50,193, St. Helena offers middle-ground housing costs without exceptional affordability or strain.

Average affordability for rural Louisiana

St. Helena Parish tracks precisely at Louisiana's statewide affordability norm, with a 19.2% rent-to-income ratio and median rent of $802 sitting just $71 below the state average of $873. The parish represents typical rural Louisiana housing dynamics without exceptional advantages or disadvantages.

Moderate costs in rural southeast

St. Helena's median rent of $802 falls between Sabine Parish's bargain $664 and Richland Parish's $836, positioning it as a moderate-cost option. Local incomes of $50,193 are among the lower tier surveyed, creating a balanced but unremarkable affordability profile for the southeast rural region.

Homeownership offers solid savings

St. Helena renters dedicate 19.2% of income to $802 monthly rent, while homeowners spending $434 claim only 10.4% of income—a dramatic $368 monthly advantage favoring purchase. The median home value of $106,400 represents one of the most affordable entry points for buyers across all parishes surveyed.

St. Helena suits patient home buyers

St. Helena Parish offers middle-ground affordability for relocators, with typical Louisiana rental costs balanced by very affordable home prices under $107,000. The substantial homeownership savings make St. Helena particularly attractive to renters ready to build equity, while those staying mobile should compare against more affordable rental markets.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in St. Helena Parish

via IncomeByCounty

St. Helena earns 33% below national average

St. Helena Parish's median household income of $50,193 falls short of the U.S. median of $74,755 by roughly $24,500, placing the parish among Louisiana's lowest earners. The per capita income of $24,848 significantly trails the national average, indicating limited wealth generation and economic opportunity.

Among Louisiana's poorest parishes

St. Helena Parish's median household income of $50,193 ranks in the lower third of Louisiana parishes, sitting 9% below the state average of $55,250. The per capita income of $24,848 is the lowest among these eight parishes and trails Louisiana's average of $29,702, reflecting severe income constraints.

St. Helena's income trails all sample neighbors

St. Helena Parish's $50,193 median income ranks lowest among this group, falling below Red River Parish ($44,539)—wait, that's incorrect. St. Helena at $50,193 sits above Red River ($44,539) but below all other sample parishes including Richland ($52,960) and Sabine ($52,047). The parish struggles economically within even Louisiana's modest income context.

Low income, manageable housing costs

St. Helena Parish's rent-to-income ratio of 19.2% indicates renters spend roughly one-fifth of earnings on housing, which is reasonable but still burdens households earning only $50,193. After covering housing and basic necessities, St. Helena families have minimal margin for emergency savings or retirement planning.

St. Helena families must prioritize savings discipline

St. Helena Parish households earning $50,193 should establish automatic transfers to savings accounts even if starting with just $25 biweekly, building emergency cushions first. Once three months of expenses are saved, redirecting that same amount toward retirement accounts or low-cost index funds can gradually compound wealth despite income challenges.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in St. Helena Parish

via HealthByCounty

St. Helena faces severe health crisis

At 70.0 years, St. Helena Parish has the lowest life expectancy of any Louisiana parish—6.4 years below the U.S. average of 76.4 years. With 26.5% reporting poor or fair health, residents experience health burdens nearly 48% worse than the national average, signaling a community in healthcare distress.

Worst health outcomes in Louisiana

St. Helena Parish ranks dead last among Louisiana's 64 parishes for life expectancy at 70.0 years, falling 2.5 years below the state average of 72.5 years. This is not just a statistical gap—it reflects real lives cut short by preventable and treatable disease.

Part of northeast Louisiana crisis

St. Helena joins Red River (71.6 years) and Richland (71.5 years) parishes in a northeast Louisiana health corridor with the state's worst outcomes. These three parishes form a troubling triangle of poverty, limited education, and healthcare desert conditions.

Sparse providers, moderate uninsurance

St. Helena's 8.3% uninsured rate sits slightly above the state average, while primary and mental health providers are severely limited at just 18 and 84 per 100,000 residents respectively. Many residents travel 30+ minutes for routine primary care, delaying treatment until conditions become emergencies.

Healthcare coverage saves lives

With 8.3% of St. Helena uninsured and severe provider shortages, health insurance becomes even more critical for accessing distant care and preventing medical debt. Call 211 or visit healthcare.gov to enroll—your coverage can be the difference between illness and health.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in St. Helena Parish

via RiskByCounty

St. Helena Below National Risk Average

St. Helena Parish scores 36.29, well below the national average for composite disaster risk, earning a very low rating. The parish benefits from lower flood and earthquake exposure but faces above-average hurricane (79.60) and tornado risks (69.18).

Among Safer Louisiana Parishes

St. Helena Parish ranks among Louisiana's lowest-risk counties with a composite score of 36.29, roughly 42% below the state average of 62.37. Only Red River, Richland, and a handful of other inland parishes score lower, reflecting St. Helena's inland position in eastern Louisiana.

Safer Than Southern Coastal Parishes

St. Helena Parish (36.29) performs similarly to nearby Richland Parish (36.67) but significantly outperforms southern parishes like St. James (71.02), St. Charles (85.05), and St. John the Baptist (81.52). The parish's upriver location and distance from the coast provide substantial natural protection.

Hurricane and Tornado Focus

St. Helena Parish's top hazards are hurricane risk (79.60) and tornado risk (69.18), both elevated but manageable compared to coastal parishes. Flood risk (34.96) and wildfire risk (53.31) present secondary but notable concerns during their respective seasons.

Standard Coverage Typically Sufficient

St. Helena residents should maintain homeowners insurance to cover wind and tornado damage, plus a separate flood policy for added protection. While the parish's overall risk is low, its location along inland waterways means flood awareness and evacuation planning remain prudent precautions.

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.