St. Mary
Louisiana

What stands out

Against every county in America, St. Mary Parish is unusual in three ways: the average temperature is in the top 4% of American counties (70°F), population growth is in the bottom 4% of American counties (-1.6% a year), and the property tax rate is in the bottom 5% of American counties (0.39%). Within Louisiana it ranks 13th of 64 counties for the average temperature.

Where you are

You live in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. 49,114 people live here with you. The population shrank 1.6% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -821).

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 $47,322 a year, lower than 84% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $61,932. Unemployment runs 4.3%, higher than 76% of American counties. 4% of workers work from home.

Louisiana takes 3.0% of that median income in state income tax, about $1,420 a year.

Home

The median home costs $117K, cheaper than 94% of American counties, about 2.0 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $815 a month. Property tax is 0.39% of home value, roughly $503 a year on that median home, lower than 95% of American counties. 69% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 4.9 per 1,000 residents, higher than 93% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 38 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 72.9 years, shorter than 81% of American counties. There are 43 active physicians in the county, about 8.8 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 2.0 of 5 stars. 10.3% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

80% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 29 points. 63% 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 70°F, highs near 79 and lows near 61, warmer than 96% of American counties. About 55 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 95 out of 100, riskier than 95% of American counties; the county has had 49 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 243 Mbps down, faster than 71% of American counties. There is 1 airport in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.6 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people.