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Iberia Parish, LA

RANK #939 / 996  ·  POP 69,958  ·  LA

PROJECTED GROWTH: -2.4%

Iberia Parish is losing people and economic momentum. This metro faces significant structural headwinds.

[01] Why Iberia Parish?

Iberia Parish, Louisiana, is known as the birthplace of Tabasco sauce, with the famous factory located on Avery Island. The parish seat, New Iberia, sits on the Bayou Teche, approximately 21 miles southeast of Lafayette. This area, part of the Acadiana region, offers a community feel with a blend of historic architecture and natural scenery. Outdoor recreation opportunities are abundant, with access to the Atchafalaya Basin and the Gulf of Mexico, providing options for fishing, boating, birdwatching, and hiking in places like Lake Fausse Pointe State Park and Cypremort Point State Park.

Life in Iberia Parish often involves a commute, with the average travel time to work being around 25 minutes. The public school system serves the entire parish and is considered above average. The local economy is supported by a workforce engaged in sectors such as energy, manufacturing, and agriculture, particularly sugar cane cultivation. Recent economic developments include investments in infrastructure and expansions in manufacturing, contributing to job creation.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
3.5x

Undervalued relative to economy

GDP Growth
+4.7%

Well above national median

Home Prices
-3.4%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
0.5

Moderate climate & terrain

Price/Rent
11x

Strong rental yield

Housing looks undervalued at 3.5x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

Iberia Parish U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
69,958
-0.79% YoY
Median Household Income
$55,190
Median Home Value
$152,400
-3.39% 12mo
Median Rent
$846
Average Annual Pay
$57,316
+3.1% YoY
Employment
24,074
+1.7% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.3621
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
2.18%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$199,500
Days on Market
70
Slower market
Months of Supply
5.4
Buyer's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
96.0%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
13.8%
Listings w/ Price Drops
26.3%
Building Permits (2024)
103
Single-Family Permits
99

Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →

[05] Capital Investment

$1,317M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
First Solar Manufacturing Facility
First Solar, Inc.
$1,100M Operating
Morbihan Battery Energy Storage System
Undisclosed (subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC)
$120M Planned
Hangar Drive Reconstruction and Extension
Iberia Parish Government
$50M Under Construction
Iberia BioInnovation Accelerator & NIRC Expansion
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
$47M Planned

Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +4.7% 82 percentile
Population Growth -0.8% 5 percentile
Income Growth +5.6% 6 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.9% 10 percentile
Home Price Change -3.4% 8 percentile
Rent Growth +1.6% 27 percentile
Price/Rent 11x 82 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is Iberia Parish, LA a good place to move to?

Iberia Parish has a Boom Town Index score of 6/100, ranking #939 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +1.7% and a median household income of $55,190, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.

Is Iberia Parish affordable?

The median home value in Iberia Parish is $152,400 with median rent at $846/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3621, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is Iberia Parish growing or shrinking?

Population growth: -0.8% year-over-year. Job growth: +1.7%. Home values changed -3.4% in the past 12 months.

Are people moving to Iberia Parish?

Yes — 2.18% of Iberia Parish's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.

[08] Similar Metros

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