Rapides
Louisiana

What stands out

If you had to describe Rapides Parish in numbers, start here: the overdose death rate is in the top 3% of American counties (50 per 100,000), life expectancy is in the bottom 8% of American counties (71.2 years), and the average temperature is in the top 8% of American counties (68°F). Within Louisiana it ranks 4th of 64 counties for the overdose death rate.

Where you are

You live in Rapides Parish, Louisiana. 129,536 people live here with you. The population shrank 0.6% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -817).

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 $55,407 a year, lower than 66% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $51,777. Unemployment runs 3.2%, lower than 57% of American counties. 4% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 23 minutes each way.

Louisiana takes 3.0% of that median income in state income tax, about $1,662 a year.

Home

The median home costs $173K, cheaper than 75% of American counties, about 2.5 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $859 a month. Property tax is 0.55% of home value, roughly $940 a year on that median home, lower than 83% of American counties. 66% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 4.1 per 1,000 residents, higher than 65% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 50 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 71.2 years, shorter than 92% of American counties. There are 411 active physicians in the county, about 31.7 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 2.5 of 5 stars. 9.3% 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 32 points. 61% 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 68°F, highs near 79 and lows near 56, warmer than 92% of American counties. About 54 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 83 out of 100, riskier than 83% of American counties; the county has had 49 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 249 Mbps down, faster than 74% of American counties. There are 10 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.5 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 1 brewery, 5 museums.