countyscore
47
County Score
Property Tax 90.2Cost of Living 66.6Soil Quality 64.1

County Report Card

About St. Martin Parish, Louisiana

St. Martin Near National Performance

St. Martin Parish holds a composite score of 47.6, placing it slightly behind the national median of 50.0. It offers a profile that emphasizes low-cost living over high-income potential.

Trailing the Louisiana State Average

The parish's 47.6 score ranks below the Louisiana average of 53.0. While it provides a more affordable alternative to neighboring hubs, its composite reflects a need for infrastructure and education improvements.

Low Tax Burden and Affordable Housing

Tax benefits drive the score, highlighted by a strong 93.7 Tax Score and an effective tax rate of 0.404%. A Cost Score of 67.3 ensures that median gross rents stay manageable at $865 per month.

Infrastructure and Education Need Attention

Environmental and infrastructure metrics lag, specifically a Water Score of 19.8 and a Risk Score of 12.7. Educational outcomes also present room for growth with a School Score of 25.4.

Best for Quiet, Low-Tax Living

St. Martin suits individuals looking for a quiet lifestyle in the heart of Acadiana with minimal property tax obligations. It is a solid choice for those who value financial predictability over urban amenities.

2040608010090.266.635.539.725.423.412.719.834.3Tax90.2Cost66.6Safety35.5Health39.7Schools25.4Income23.4Risk12.7Water19.8Weather34.347/100
This county
National avg
2 above average7 below average

St. Martin Parish DNA

Foverall

How St. Martin Parish compares to the national average across nine baseline dimensions

St. Martin Parish is a tale of two counties — exceptional in Property Tax (90.2/100) but notably weak in Water Quality (19.8/100). This polarized profile creates distinct trade-offs for residents.

Dimension Breakdown

Tax
90.2+38.2
Cost
66.6+18.599999999999994
Safety
35.5-19.5
Health
39.7-10.299999999999997
Schools
25.4-28.6
Income
23.4-27.6
Risk
12.7-34.3
Water
19.8-38.2
Weather
34.3-21.700000000000003
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Can You Afford to Live Here?

Median Home Price

$164,200

National median: $185,300

Median Rent

$870/mo

National median: $877/mo

Income Needed (home)

$164,200/yr

28% front-end rule

Income Needed (rent)

$34,800/yr

30% rent rule

Affordability Spectrum2.9x income
AffordableNational avgExpensive
Local median income: $55,960/yr
Compare Mortgage Rates

Economic & Education Snapshot

Primary Care

11.6

per 100K

Data from Federal Reserve (FRED), U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, and CMS NPPES.

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncome & Jobsincomebycounty.comSafetycrimebycounty.comHealthhealthbycounty.comSchoolsschoolsbycounty.comDisaster Riskriskbycounty.comWater Qualitywaterbycounty.comWeather & Climateweatherbycounty.comSoil Qualitysoilbycounty.comLawn Carelawnbycounty.comFarmers Marketsmarketsbycounty.comView on Mapcountyscore.com/map
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Nearby counties

Iberville Parish
Louisiana
52.8
Iberia Parish
Louisiana
58.9
Lafayette Parish
Louisiana
33.7
West Baton Rouge Parish
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47.6
St. Mary Parish
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48.6
Assumption Parish
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70
Ascension Parish
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East Baton Rouge Parish
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30.5

Deep Dives

St. Martin Parish across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 9 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in St. Martin Parish

via TaxByCounty

St. Martin taxes well below U.S. median

St. Martin Parish's effective tax rate of 0.404% generates a median annual tax of $610, roughly one-quarter the national median property tax of $2,690. This places the parish comfortably in the bottom third of all American counties for tax burden.

Slightly above Louisiana's middle

St. Martin's rate of 0.404% sits just below Louisiana's state average of 0.421%, ranking the parish in the middle tier of Louisiana's 64 parishes. Median taxes of $610 annually exceed the statewide median of $732, placing residents near the state's average burden.

Moderate taxes in a low-tax region

St. Martin Parish (0.404%) taxes slightly more than St. Landry (0.297%) and Tensas (0.289%) but less than Tangipahoa (0.433%) and Terrebonne (0.451%). Among the eight-parish peer group, St. Martin ranks fourth in tax rate, making it a moderate-tax parish regionally.

Your annual tax on a median home

With a median home value of $151,000, St. Martin residents typically pay $610 per year in property taxes, or $984 when mortgage escrow is included. This amounts to about $51 monthly—reasonable by both state and national standards.

Appeal if your assessment is high

Many St. Martin Parish homeowners pay taxes on assessments higher than their home's true market value. Filing an assessment appeal costs nothing and often results in lower taxes; if your property's appraised value exceeds recent comparable sales, you likely have grounds to challenge it.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Income & Jobs in St. Martin Parish

via IncomeByCounty

St. Martin trails U.S. income median

St. Martin Parish households earn $53,394 annually, about $21,300 short of the national median of $74,755. This 29% gap places St. Martin solidly below national income benchmarks, though closer to national norms than some peer parishes.

Slightly above Louisiana's median

St. Martin's $53,394 median income edges just under Louisiana's $55,250 state average. The parish ranks in the middle tier of Louisiana's 64 parishes, positioning it as a moderate-income region by state standards.

Outearns struggling peers

St. Martin's $53,394 outpaces St. Landry Parish ($45,637) and Union Parish ($45,743) by roughly 17%, though Tangipahoa Parish pulls ahead at $57,256. The parish sits in a competitive middle ground within its regional cluster.

Housing costs remain affordable

With a 19.4% rent-to-income ratio, St. Martin residents spend less than one-fifth of earnings on rent, well below affordability concerns. The median home value of $151,000 also remains accessible to households earning near the parish median.

Strategic saving fuels long-term gains

St. Martin residents can boost wealth by automating savings and exploring employer 401(k) matches. A household earning $53,394 that saves just $150 monthly ($1,800 yearly) accumulates $36,000 in emergency funds within five years before interest.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Safety in St. Martin Parish

via CrimeByCounty

St. Martin Parish Outperforms National Safety Norms

St. Martin Parish maintains a high safety score of 97.6, reflecting a secure environment for its residents. Its total crime rate of 1496.5 per 100,000 people is roughly 37% lower than the national average of 2,385.5.

Exceeding the Louisiana Safety Average

The parish's safety score of 97.6 sits comfortably above the Louisiana state average of 97.1. With a total crime rate of 1496.5, St. Martin is safer than many typical parishes across the state.

A Safer Neighbor in Southern Louisiana

Compared to nearby St. Mary Parish, which reports a crime rate of 2164.3, St. Martin is significantly quieter. This lower rate makes it one of the more peaceful jurisdictions in the immediate region.

Property Crimes Lead Local Incidents

Property crimes account for 1159.0 incidents per 100,000 residents, while violent crimes are much lower at 337.5. For residents, this means that while theft is the primary concern, violent encounters remain below the national rate of 369.8.

Focusing on Residential Security

Since property crime is the most common local issue, simple security upgrades can make a big difference. Installing motion-sensor lighting and smart doorbells helps deter opportunistic theft and keeps the community safe.

Full safety analysis on CrimeByCounty

Weather & Climate in St. Martin Parish

via WeatherByCounty

A subtropical Louisiana climate

With an average annual temperature of 67.8°F, St. Martin Parish is much warmer than the typical U.S. county. This area experiences the high humidity and heavy rainfall characteristic of the Gulf Coast region.

Following the state temperature curve

The parish matches the Louisiana state average closely, coming in at 67.8°F versus the 67.0°F state baseline. It remains consistently warmer than the northern parishes while avoiding the absolute peak heat of the deep coast.

Wetter than nearby St. Landry

St. Martin Parish is significantly wetter than its neighbor St. Landry, receiving 66.6 inches of rain compared to 61.4 inches. Temperature-wise, both parishes stay within a fraction of a degree of each other year-round.

Mild winters and humid summers

Extreme heat hits 70 days per year here, which is notably lower than some inland neighbors. July temperatures average 81.5°F, while winter remains comfortable with a 53.8°F average and zero snow.

Invest in moisture management

Because the parish receives 66.6 inches of rain—well above the state average of 60.8—drainage and moisture control are top priorities for homeowners. Outdoor activities should be planned for the 53.8°F winter months to avoid the 70 days of extreme heat.

Full weather & climate analysis on WeatherByCounty

Soil Quality in St. Martin Parish

via SoilByCounty

St. Martin's Balanced Acidic Profile

The parish maintains a pH of 6.10, sitting closer to the national median of 6.5 than most of Louisiana. This makes the soil less acidic than the state average of 5.74, reducing the need for heavy lime applications.

A Silty Mix with Clay Body

Composition consists of 54.4% silt and 33.7% clay, making it a dense and moisture-retentive medium. With only 10.6% sand, these soils are naturally fertile but require careful timing for tilling.

Strong Organic Content for Crops

Organic matter is healthy at 3.15%, well above the national average of 2.0%. Combined with an available water capacity of 0.186 in/in, these soils provide a stable reservoir of nutrients and moisture for local agriculture.

High Clay Leads to Slow Drainage

The 33.7% clay content indicates that water moves slowly through these soils compared to sandier parishes. Proper grading is essential for residential building to prevent ponding in backyards.

Grow Year-Round in Zone 9a

The mild climate of zone 9a and a soil score of 64.1 create a highly productive environment for citrus and sugarcane. Grab some seeds and take advantage of this above-average Louisiana soil.

Full soil quality analysis on SoilByCounty

Lawn Care in St. Martin Parish

via LawnByCounty

St. Martin lawn care demands precision

St. Martin Parish earns a difficulty score of 30.9, making it slightly easier to manage than its neighbor St. Landry but still harder than the national average. This Zone 9a parish requires consistent maintenance to stay green.

Excessive rain meets moderate heat

Annual precipitation reaches 66.6 inches, which is nearly 17 inches above the ideal upper limit for most turfgrass. While rainfall is high, the area only sees 70 extreme heat days, which is lower than the Louisiana state average.

Ideal pH but heavy clay

The local soil pH of 6.10 falls perfectly within the ideal 6.0-7.0 range for nutrient uptake. However, a high clay content of 33.7% means gardeners must watch for compaction and aeration needs.

Managing a year of drought

The parish weathered 25 weeks of drought in the last year, though only 5.9% of the area remains in severe drought currently. Mulching your lawn clippings helps retain moisture during these frequent dry periods.

Time your planting for February

Zoysia and St. Augustine are excellent choices for the local soil and humidity levels. Aim to begin your lawn projects after the typical last frost on February 21.

Full lawn care analysis on LawnByCounty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is St. Martin Parish's county score?
St. Martin Parish, Louisiana has a composite county score of 47 out of 100 on CountyScore. This score is calculated from a weighted average of available data dimensions including property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools.
How does St. Martin Parish rank among counties in Louisiana?
St. Martin Parish ranks #43 among all counties in Louisiana on CountyScore's composite ranking. Rankings are based on available data dimensions and updated as new data is added.
What are property taxes like in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana?
The median annual property tax in St. Martin Parish is $725, with an effective tax rate of 0.44%. This earns St. Martin Parish a tax score of 90.2/100 on CountyScore (higher = lower taxes).
What is the median household income in St. Martin Parish?
The median household income in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana is $55,960 per year according to U.S. Census Bureau data. St. Martin Parish earns an income score of 23.4/100 on CountyScore.
Is St. Martin Parish, Louisiana a good place to live?
St. Martin Parish scores 47/100 on CountyScore's overall county ranking, ranking #43 in Louisiana. The best way to evaluate St. Martin Parish is to compare individual dimension scores — property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools — based on your personal priorities. Use CountyScore to compare St. Martin Parish with other counties side by side.
By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

ByCounty Network

Property TaxCost of LivingIncome & JobsSafetyHealthSchoolsDisaster RiskWater QualityWeather & ClimateSoil QualityLawn CareFarmers Markets

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