countyscore
59.6
County Score
Property Tax 98.7Cost of Living 93.2Disaster Risk 85.5

County Report Card

About Tensas Parish, Louisiana

Outperforming the National Median

Tensas Parish exceeds the national median of 50.0 with a composite score of 59.6. Its high ranking is driven by exceptional affordability and a surprisingly low risk of natural disasters.

A Top Performer in Louisiana

This parish ranks well above the Louisiana average of 53.0, making it a hidden gem for specific lifestyles. It offers some of the best tax and cost profiles in the entire state.

Incredible Affordability and High Resilience

Tax and cost metrics are nearly perfect, scoring 98.7 and 93.2 respectively. The median home value of $80,300 is paired with an impressive Risk Score of 85.5, indicating high resilience against disasters.

Economic Opportunity and Infrastructure

Economic opportunity is extremely limited, as the Income Score of 1.2 reflects a median household income of $36,074. Water infrastructure also faces significant hurdles, scoring a very low 1.7.

The Ultimate Budget Destination

Tensas is a paradise for retirees or digital nomads on a tight budget who want a safe, quiet environment. It is the perfect choice for those who value extreme affordability over a high local salary.

Score breakdown

Tax98.7Cost93.2Safety53.9Health21.7Schools50.5Income1.2Risk85.5Water1.7Weather32.9
🏛98.7
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠93.2
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼1.2
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡53.9
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
CrimeByCounty →
❤21.7
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓50.5
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
SchoolsByCounty →
⚡85.5
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧1.7
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades
WaterByCounty →
🌤32.9
Weather & Climate
Average temperatures, precipitation, and extreme weather events
WeatherByCounty →
🪨49.3
Soil Quality
Soil composition, pH, drainage, and organic matter content
SoilByCounty →
🌱37.6
Lawn Care
Lawn difficulty score based on climate, soil, and grass suitability
LawnByCounty →
🛒
Farmers Markets
Local market density, SNAP/EBT acceptance, and product variety
MarketsByCounty →
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Compare Tensas Parish with Franklin County →Share on X

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Nearby counties

Jefferson County
Mississippi
52.3
Claiborne County
Mississippi
55.3
Franklin Parish
Louisiana
54
Adams County
Mississippi
57.1
Madison Parish
Louisiana
56.6
Catahoula Parish
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58.9
Franklin County
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60.2
Warren County
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31.9

Deep Dives

Tensas Parish across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 10 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

Safety in Tensas Parish

via CrimeByCounty

High Safety Score in Tensas Parish

Tensas Parish earns a high safety score of 98.4, with a total crime rate of 1041.9 per 100,000 people. This rate is less than half the national average of 2,385.5, indicating a very quiet region.

Ranking High Among Louisiana Parishes

The parish's safety score of 98.4 beats the Louisiana average of 97.1. Note that these figures come from a single reporting agency, so they reflect a specific but limited slice of local law enforcement data.

Low Overall Crime Comparison

Tensas Parish sees much less total crime than the state average of 1853.7. For its size and location, it remains one of the least active areas for criminal reporting in its part of the state.

Violent Crime Elevated Relative to Total

While total crime is low, the violent crime rate of 460.4 is actually higher than the national average of 369.8. Property crime sits at 581.5, representing a unusually balanced split between crime types.

Staying Safe in Tensas Parish

Even in high-safety areas, awareness of your surroundings is key. Residents should secure their entry points and stay connected with neighbors to maintain the parish's low-crime reputation.

Full safety analysis on CrimeByCounty

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

Schools in Tensas Parish

via SchoolsByCounty

Intimate Education in Tensas Parish

Tensas Parish operates one of the smallest public school systems in the state, with just two schools. A single elementary and a single high school serve the parish’s total enrollment of 347 students.

Strong Investment and Comparative Scores

Tensas Parish invests $9,283 per pupil, notably higher than the state average of $7,881. This funding supports a graduation rate of 84.0% and a school score of 55.3, which exceeds the national median of 50.0.

One District, Two Schools

The Tensas Parish district manages both local schools without any charter interventions. This small-scale administration allows for a focused educational approach for all 347 students in the system.

The Quiet Feel of Rural Learning

Both schools in the parish are located in rural settings, offering an average campus size of just 174 students. Tensas Elementary is the largest site with 178 students, ensuring every child is known by name.

Small-Town Living in Tensas Parish

For those seeking a tight-knit community where the school is the heart of the parish, Tensas is a unique choice. Explore the peace of rural Louisiana and the benefits of a high-investment, small-enrollment school system.

Full schools analysis on SchoolsByCounty

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

Weather & Climate in Tensas Parish

via WeatherByCounty

Southern heat with inland extremes

Tensas Parish averages 65.5°F annually, which is over 10 degrees warmer than the national median. Located inland, it experiences more drastic temperature shifts than the coastal parishes.

Cooler than the state average

At 65.5°F, Tensas is cooler than the Louisiana state average of 67.0°F. This is due to its more northerly location, which allows for lower winter temperatures than the Gulf region.

Drier than southern neighbors

Tensas receives 58.2 inches of rain, which is less than the 61.4 inches seen in St. Landry. It also experiences more extreme heat days than many coastal areas, totaling 108 days per year.

Intense heat and cooler winters

Despite having a lower annual average, the parish faces 108 days of extreme heat over 90°F. Winters are some of the state's coolest, averaging 49.1°F from December through February.

Prepare for temperature swings

Residents must plan for both 108 days of extreme heat and winter nights that dip lower than in southern Louisiana. The 58.2 inches of rain is heavy by national standards, requiring good land drainage for agriculture.

Full weather & climate analysis on WeatherByCounty

Soil Quality in Tensas Parish

via SoilByCounty

Sweet Soils of the Delta

Tensas Parish has a pH of 6.12, which is significantly less acidic than the state average of 5.74. This profile is nearing the national median of 6.5, making it excellent for diverse agriculture.

A Heavy Clay Foundation

This soil is heavy on clay at 38.9% and silt at 36.8%, with 24.3% sand. The high clay content makes the soil nutrient-rich but also prone to shrinking and swelling as moisture levels change.

Lower Organic Matter and Water Storage

Organic matter is lower than the state average at 2.26%, though it remains above the national 2.0% average. The available water capacity of 0.152 in/in is below the state average, suggesting a need for irrigation during dry periods.

Heavy Ground Requires Strategic Planning

The high clay percentage typically results in slow water movement through the soil profile. Gardeners should watch for heavy crusting on the surface after rains, which can hinder seedling emergence.

Cotton and Corn Country in Zone 8b

In hardiness zone 8b, these soils are traditionally used for cotton and corn due to their mineral richness. While the soil score is 49.3, adding compost will easily boost its productivity for a backyard vegetable patch.

Full soil quality analysis on SoilByCounty

Lawn Care in Tensas Parish

via LawnByCounty

Tensas offers the best conditions

With a score of 37.6, Tensas Parish is the easiest place to grow a lawn in this group. Despite being in the slightly cooler Zone 8b, it outperforms the state average difficulty of 33.8.

Abundant heat and moderate rain

Tensas faces 108 extreme heat days, the highest in this set, requiring very heat-tolerant grass. However, its 58.2 inches of rain is closest to the national ideal, reducing the risk of waterlogged roots.

Solid soil with high clay

The soil pH of 6.12 is nearly perfect for lawn health, falling right in the 6.0-7.0 sweet spot. The 38.9% clay content helps retain moisture during the parish's frequent 90-degree days.

Extreme drought alert in Tensas

Current data shows 98.4% of the parish is in severe drought, despite having only 11 drought weeks last year. Residents must adhere to local water restrictions and consider drought-dormant grass varieties.

Mid-March begins the season

Bermuda and Zoysia are the top performers for handling the 108 days of intense heat. Schedule your planting for mid-March, following the typical last frost on March 13.

Full lawn care analysis on LawnByCounty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tensas Parish's county score?
Tensas Parish, Louisiana has a composite county score of 59.6 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 Tensas Parish rank among counties in Louisiana?
Tensas Parish ranks #19 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 Tensas Parish, Louisiana?
The median annual property tax in Tensas Parish is $232, with an effective tax rate of 0.29%. This earns Tensas Parish a tax score of 98.7/100 on CountyScore (higher = lower taxes).
What is the median household income in Tensas Parish?
The median household income in Tensas Parish, Louisiana is $36,074 per year according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Tensas Parish earns an income score of 1.2/100 on CountyScore.
Is Tensas Parish, Louisiana a good place to live?
Tensas Parish scores 59.6/100 on CountyScore's overall county ranking, ranking #19 in Louisiana. The best way to evaluate Tensas 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 Tensas Parish with other counties side by side.

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality🌤Weather & Climate🪨Soil Quality🌱Lawn Care🛒Farmers Markets

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