Ouachita
Louisiana

What stands out

Against every county in America, Ouachita Parish is unusual in three ways: homeownership is in the bottom 7% of American counties (60%), rainfall is in the top 12% of American counties (53 inches a year), and the property tax rate is in the bottom 13% of American counties (0.51%). Within Louisiana it ranks 6th of 64 counties for homeownership, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana. 159,585 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.1% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -583).

Louisiana moved to a flat 3% income tax in 2025 and has one of the highest combined sales-tax rates in the nation. The homestead exemption removes the first $75,000 of home value from property tax, which keeps property bills low. Hurricane and flood exposure drives insurance costs across the southern parishes, and several insurers have left the state since 2020.

Money

The typical household here brings in $49,261 a year, lower than 80% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $50,059. Unemployment runs 3.6%, higher than 59% of American counties. 6% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 21 minutes each way.

Louisiana takes 3.0% of that median income in state income tax, about $1,478 a year.

Home

The median home costs $182K, cheaper than 71% of American counties, about 2.6 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $861 a month. Property tax is 0.51% of home value, roughly $878 a year on that median home, lower than 87% of American counties. 60% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 4.2 per 1,000 residents, higher than 70% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 13 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 72.5 years, shorter than 83% of American counties. There are 467 active physicians in the county, about 29.3 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 2.7 of 5 stars. 8.0% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

88% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 24 points. 60% of eligible voters turned out. Under Louisiana law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is banned with narrow exceptions, and marijuana is medical only.

Weather and risk

The year averages 67°F, highs near 78 and lows near 55, warmer than 87% of American counties. About 53 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 86 out of 100, riskier than 86% of American counties; the county has had 44 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 256 Mbps down, faster than 77% of American counties. There are 2 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.6 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 2 breweries, 4 museums.