CountyScore

Tensas Parish

Louisiana · LA

#13 in Louisiana
73.9
County Score

County Report Card

About Tensas Parish, Louisiana

Tensas scores above national average despite poverty

Tensas Parish achieves 73.9—nearly 48% above the national median of 50.0—a surprising result for Louisiana's most economically distressed parish. The score reflects exceptional affordability rather than prosperity: median home values of $80,300 and rent at $613/month are the lowest in our analysis. This reveals how affordability alone can generate high livability scores even amid poverty.

Highest score despite lowest incomes

Tensas ranks highest among our eight parishes at 73.9, exceeding the state average of 70.4 by nearly 5 points. This paradoxical success reflects extreme cost efficiency rather than opportunity—the parish scores brilliantly on affordability (89.3) but poorly on income (6.9). Tensas demonstrates how metrics can mask underlying economic hardship.

Unmatched affordability and minimal taxes

Tensas leads all parishes with a cost score of 89.3, a tax score of 94.1, and an effective rate of 0.289%. Median home values at $80,300 and rent at $613/month are the most affordable in Louisiana, enabling households to live on minimal income. For those who can work remotely or draw outside income, Tensas offers unbeatable value.

Severe poverty and environmental vulnerability

Tensas's median household income of $36,074—lowest in our group—produces an income score of 6.9, reflecting severe economic distress. More concerning, the risk score of 85.5 signals serious vulnerability to environmental disasters, economic shocks, or health crises. Health outcomes at 51.5 trail most peers, suggesting limited medical resources and poor population health.

Only for remote workers and retirees

Tensas Parish suits only those with secure outside income—remote workers, retirees, or those drawing disability—who can live on minimal local earnings. The parish's extreme affordability is a genuine advantage, but only if residents don't depend on local employment or robust public services. It represents affordable living with real limitations and risks.

Score breakdown

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

Tax94.1Cost89.3SafetyComing SoonHealth51.5SchoolsComing SoonIncome6.9Risk85.5WaterComing Soon
🏛94.1
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠89.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼6.9
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤51.5
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡85.5
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 Tensas Parish with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Las Animas County
Colorado
73.9
Median income: $50,408
Phillips County
Colorado
73.9
Median income: $60,372
Blackford County
Indiana
73.9
Median income: $47,560
O'Brien County
Iowa
73.9
Median income: $68,216
Allen County
Kentucky
73.9
Median income: $59,029

Deep Dives

Tensas Parish across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Tensas Parish

via TaxByCounty

Tensas Parish has America's lowest rates

Tensas Parish's effective tax rate of 0.289% produces median annual taxes of just $232, less than 9% of the national median property tax of $2,690. This places the parish at the absolute bottom nationally, making it one of America's most tax-friendly counties.

Louisiana's lowest tax burden

Tensas's 0.289% rate is the lowest among all Louisiana parishes, running 31% below the state average of 0.421%. Median taxes of $232 annually are the lowest statewide, making Tensas Parish exceptionally affordable for homeowners.

Unbeatable tax advantage in the region

Tensas Parish (0.289%) has the lowest rate among all eight regional peers, with the next-lowest being St. Landry (0.297%). Tensas residents pay roughly $193 less annually than those in moderate-tax parishes like Tangipahoa, a significant savings advantage.

Your annual tax on a median home

With a median home value of $80,300, Tensas residents pay approximately $232 per year in property taxes, or $253 with mortgage escrow included. This equals just $19-21 monthly—among the lowest property tax payments in the entire nation.

Even low taxes can be challenged

Even in ultra-low-tax Tensas Parish, homeowners should verify that their assessments reflect current market values. If recent comparable sales suggest your appraised value is too high, a free assessment appeal could provide additional savings.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Tensas Parish

via CostByCounty

Tensas struggles with income-housing mismatch

At 20.4%, Tensas Parish carries Louisiana's highest rent-to-income burden despite the lowest rents in the state at $613 monthly. The core problem: a median household income of just $36,074—$38,681 below the national median—means even cheap housing consumes a larger share of limited earnings.

Louisiana's deepest poverty-housing strain

Tensas Parish bottoms Louisiana's affordability rankings with the state's lowest median household income of $36,074 paired with the highest rent-to-income ratio at 20.4%. This parish faces the most acute housing stress of any Louisiana county.

Cheapest housing but lowest income

Tensas rents of $613 undercut all neighbors—St. Landry ($742), Union ($758)—and homes cost just $80,300. Yet incomes here run $9,563 below St. Landry and $9,669 below Union, making even rock-bottom housing relatively burdensome.

Low rent can't offset low wages

Renters pay $613 monthly while homeowners carry $546, but with a median income of only $36,074, housing still consumes 20.4% of household budgets. This tight squeeze leaves minimal cushion for emergencies or basic needs.

Tensas for remote workers seeking low cost

Remote workers earning non-local incomes could unlock Tensas's lowest-price housing at $80,300 median home value, but traditional job-seekers face severe income constraints here. Evaluate career opportunities carefully before relocating to this economically challenged parish.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Tensas Parish

via IncomeByCounty

Tensas faces severe income gap

Tensas Parish households earn just $36,074 annually, a staggering $38,681 below the national median of $74,755. This 52% shortfall marks Tensas as one of the lowest-income parishes in Louisiana and the nation.

Louisiana's lowest-income parish

Tensas's $36,074 median income lags Louisiana's $55,250 average by nearly $19,200, or 35%. The parish ranks dead last or near-last among Louisiana's 64 parishes, reflecting severe economic distress in the region.

Significantly underearn all peers

Tensas's $36,074 trails Union Parish ($45,743) by $9,600 and St. Landry Parish ($45,637) by $9,500. The parish faces isolation from regional economic activity and job opportunities available in neighboring areas.

Tight budgets strain housing costs

Tensas's 20.4% rent-to-income ratio is manageable in isolation, but the critically low median income of $36,074 leaves households with minimal savings capacity. The median home value of $80,300 represents the lowest in the region, yet remains challenging for this income tier.

Start small, think long-term

Tensas residents should focus on emergency savings before investing—even $25 monthly builds $600 yearly as a cushion. Once stabilized, any available funds invested at 7% returns grow substantially: $50 monthly becomes $20,000+ over 20 years.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Tensas Parish

via HealthByCounty

Tensas faces significant national health gap

At 72.3 years, Tensas Parish residents live nearly 3.8 years less than the U.S. average of 76.1 years. The parish's 34.4% poor or fair health rate is the highest in this comparison and far exceeds the national average of 17%, signaling a health crisis.

Among Louisiana's worst health outcomes

Tensas Parish's 72.3-year life expectancy is marginally below Louisiana's 72.5-year state average, but its 34.4% poor/fair health rate ranks as one of the worst in the state. The parish faces acute health challenges that demand urgent attention.

Dramatically worse health than nearby parishes

Tensas's 34.4% poor/fair health rate—nearly 10 percentage points above neighbors like Tangipahoa (22.4%) and St. Martin (22.5%)—reflects severe population health stress. With only 25 primary care providers per 100,000, the parish has among the lowest provider density in the region.

Highest uninsured rate compounds crisis

Tensas Parish's 10.3% uninsured rate is the highest in this comparison and well above Louisiana's 8.1% average, leaving more than 1 in 10 residents without coverage. Combined with only 25 primary care providers per 100,000, the parish faces a severe access-to-care crisis.

Get covered now—help is available

If you're among Tensas's uninsured residents, Louisiana's expanded Medicaid and marketplace plans can connect you to affordable care starting today. Visit Healthcare.gov or call 1-855-695-3686 to enroll and begin accessing the preventive and routine care your health requires.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Tensas Parish

via RiskByCounty

Tensas Parish faces minimal disaster risk

Tensas Parish's composite risk score of 14.50 places it among America's safest counties, earning a "Very Low" rating. The parish confronts substantially lower natural disaster exposure than the typical U.S. location.

Louisiana's lowest-risk parish

At 14.50, Tensas Parish scores 77% below Louisiana's state average of 62.37, making it by far the state's safest parish. No other Louisiana parish approaches Tensas's low-risk profile.

Dramatically safer than all peers

Tensas Parish (14.50) faces a fraction of the risk posed by neighboring parishes like Union (49.65), St. Landry (88.20), and St. Mary (88.93). The parish represents an anomaly of safety within Louisiana's generally high-risk landscape.

Tornado risk stands above all others

Tornado risk of 45.99 represents Tensas Parish's primary threat, though this remains well below state and national averages. Hurricane risk of 70.25 and flood risk of 8.05 present minimal danger to residents.

Standard homeowners insurance suffices

Tensas Parish residents benefit from below-average disaster risk, meaning standard homeowners insurance typically provides adequate protection without specialized flood or hurricane riders. A basic home safety plan addresses the modest tornado threat.

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.