CountyScore

St. James Parish

Louisiana · LA

#29 in Louisiana
71.3
County Score

County Report Card

About St. James Parish, Louisiana

St. James Parish significantly outpaces national median

St. James Parish scores 71.3—nearly 43% above the national median of 50.0—ranking it as a top-tier livable U.S. county. Strong tax and affordability scores anchor this solid performance.

St. James scores above Louisiana average

St. James Parish's composite score of 71.3 exceeds Louisiana's average of 70.4, placing it among the state's better-performing parishes. The parish offers above-average livability and stability.

Balanced affordability and moderate income

St. James Parish combines strong tax efficiency (87.4, effective rate 0.527%), housing affordability (cost score 83.0), and the second-highest income score (25.5) in this group with median household income of $64,536. Health outcomes of 68.9 are also solid.

Risk factors warrant closer examination

The risk score of 29.0 signals moderate environmental or natural hazard concerns that residents should understand before moving. This exposure is more serious than in parishes like Richland or St. Helena.

Ideal for working families balancing income and costs

St. James Parish suits working families and young professionals who earn moderate incomes and value affordable housing and low taxes. It offers good overall balance but requires acceptance of environmental risk exposure.

Score breakdown

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

Tax87.4Cost83SafetyComing SoonHealth68.9SchoolsComing SoonIncome25.5Risk29WaterComing Soon
🏛87.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠83
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼25.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤68.9
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡29
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. James Parish with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Barbour County
Alabama
71.3
Median income: $44,290
Marengo County
Alabama
71.3
Median income: $44,205
Clark County
Arkansas
71.3
Median income: $50,985
Jefferson County
Florida
71.3
Median income: $56,984
Lafayette County
Florida
71.3
Median income: $60,692

Deep Dives

St. James Parish across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in St. James Parish

via TaxByCounty

St. James Parish below national tax median

St. James Parish residents pay an effective property tax rate of 0.527%, significantly lower than the national median of 0.955% and in the bottom 20% of U.S. counties by burden. The median annual property tax of $1,043 remains roughly 61% below the national median of $2,690.

Above-average rate for Louisiana

St. James Parish's 0.527% effective rate exceeds Louisiana's state average of 0.421%, placing it in the upper-middle tier of the state's parishes for tax burden. The median annual tax of $1,043 substantially exceeds the state median of $732, driven partly by higher home values in the parish.

Higher than St. Helena, lower than St. Charles

St. James Parish's 0.527% rate falls between St. Helena Parish's 0.421% and St. Charles Parish's 0.574%, positioning it in the moderate-to-higher range for the south-central region. A St. James homeowner with the median $197,800 property pays roughly $100 more annually than a St. Helena resident with the same value.

What $197,800 homes cost to own

St. James Parish homeowners with the median property value of $197,800 pay approximately $1,043 in annual property taxes at the 0.527% rate. Including mortgage-related assessments, the total annual bill climbs to $1,358.

Challenge overassessments on your property

St. James Parish residents paying above-average state taxes should verify their assessments reflect current market values. Filing an appeal with your assessor is free and may lower your annual tax bill if your home is overvalued.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in St. James Parish

via CostByCounty

St. James achieves excellent rent value

St. James Parish renters spend just 15.3% of income on housing—tied for Louisiana's best rent-to-income ratio and well below national affordability benchmarks. With median rent of $821 and household income of $64,536, St. James delivers strong rental value alongside the state's higher income profile.

Top-tier affordability in Louisiana

St. James Parish ranks among Louisiana's most affordable parishes for renters at 15.3% rent-to-income, matching Sabine Parish's exceptional performance. The combination of reasonable median rent at $821 and solid household income of $64,536 positions St. James as a standout value within the state.

Better balance than nearby parishes

St. James's 15.3% rent-to-income ratio beats neighboring St. Bernard Parish's 22.6% and St. John the Baptist Parish's 19.9%, despite comparable proximity to New Orleans economic activity. The $821 rent offers better value than St. Bernard's $1,083 while supporting stronger incomes than rural alternatives.

Both rent and ownership are accessible

St. James renters allocate just 15.3% of income to $821 monthly rent, while homeowners with $700 mortgages claim 13% of income—both exceptional ratios. The median home value of $197,800 provides fair value for buyers, making both rental and ownership paths genuinely affordable in this parish.

St. James balances affordability and access

St. James Parish delivers Louisiana's best overall housing value, combining excellent rent-to-income ratios of 15.3% with solid household incomes and reasonable home prices under $198,000. Whether you're relocating as a renter or buyer, St. James offers affordability advantages rare among parishes with comparable income levels and economic opportunity.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in St. James Parish

via IncomeByCounty

St. James earns 14% below national median

St. James Parish's median household income of $64,536 trails the U.S. median of $74,755 by approximately $10,200, a respectable but below-average position. The per capita income of $35,832 exceeds the national average, indicating concentrated wealth among a portion of the parish population.

St. James ranks in upper-middle tier

St. James Parish's median household income of $64,536 ranks solidly above Louisiana's state average of $55,250 by roughly $9,300, placing it among the stronger-earning parishes in this sample. The per capita income of $35,832 significantly exceeds Louisiana's average of $29,702, suggesting more robust individual earning power.

St. James second only to St. Charles

St. James Parish's $64,536 median income ranks second highest in this group, trailing only St. Charles Parish's $82,172 but outpacing St. John the Baptist ($67,418) by a margin. St. James's strong position reflects industrial and petrochemical employment opportunities along the Mississippi River corridor.

Excellent housing affordability enables savings

St. James Parish boasts a favorable rent-to-income ratio of 15.3%, among the lowest in this sample, with renters spending just over one-seventh of income on housing. This strong affordability combined with $64,536 median household income creates substantial capacity for savings and wealth-building investments.

St. James households should accelerate investing

St. James Parish families earning $64,536 with housing costs at just 15.3% of income should aggressively fund 401(k)s, IRAs, and taxable investment accounts. This combination of solid earnings and low housing burden positions St. James households to build serious long-term wealth through disciplined, consistent investing.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in St. James Parish

via HealthByCounty

St. James performs above many peers

St. James Parish residents live an average of 74.5 years, just 1.9 years below the U.S. average of 76.4 years. With 21.5% reporting poor or fair health—only 19% above the national average—St. James stands out as a relative health success story in Louisiana's struggling landscape.

Top tier parish for health outcomes

St. James's 74.5-year life expectancy ranks well above Louisiana's state average of 72.5 years, placing it among the parish's top performers. The parish also maintains a low uninsured rate of 6.0%, below the state average of 8.1%.

Outshining most nearby parishes

St. James's 74.5 years surpasses St. John the Baptist Parish (73.6 years) and St. Bernard Parish (73.2 years), approaching St. Charles Parish's exceptional 75.3 years. This river parish benefits from industrial employment, stronger tax bases, and better healthcare infrastructure than many rural neighbors.

Low uninsurance, modest provider base

St. James Parish's 6.0% uninsured rate is among Louisiana's best, with 25 primary care providers and 83 mental health providers per 100,000 residents. While primary care capacity is moderate, the low uninsured rate means residents can actually afford and access the care available.

Stay covered and stay healthy

St. James's 6.0% uninsured rate reflects strong enrollment, but 400+ residents still lack coverage—don't be one of them. Visit healthcare.gov to confirm your coverage or explore options that keep you on track with St. James's health advantage.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in St. James Parish

via RiskByCounty

St. James Faces Elevated National Risk

St. James Parish scores 71.02, well above the national average and earning a relatively low risk rating. The parish confronts severe hurricane (94.12) and flood risks (83.40), compounded by above-average tornado exposure (67.56).

High Risk Among Louisiana Parishes

St. James Parish ranks in Louisiana's upper tier with a composite score of 71.02, exceeding the state average of 62.37 by 14%. The parish's position along the Mississippi River corridor between New Orleans and Baton Rouge concentrates disaster exposure.

Riskier Than Inland Peers

St. James Parish (71.02) significantly exceeds inland parishes like St. Helena (36.29) and Richland (36.67) but sits below the extreme coastal exposure of St. Charles (85.05) and St. John the Baptist (81.52). The parish's river-level location creates unique hurricane surge and riverine flood vulnerability.

Flood, Hurricane, Tornado Threats

St. James Parish faces critical flood risk (83.40) and hurricane risk (94.12), reflecting its Mississippi River corridor location and Gulf proximity. Tornado risk (67.56) adds a third major hazard, particularly during spring and summer severe weather seasons.

Flood and Wind Insurance Essential

St. James residents must obtain homeowners insurance plus a separate flood policy—standard policies do not cover flood damage from rivers or heavy rain. Elevating utilities, installing backflow preventers, and maintaining evacuation routes are critical actions for river-level properties.

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.