RANK #857 / 996 · POP 129,536 · LA
PROJECTED GROWTH: -1.1%
Rapides Parish, Louisiana, is often recognized for its central location within the state, where the cultural influences of Anglo-Saxon North Louisiana meet the Cajun and Creole traditions of the south. Alexandria, the parish seat, sits on the Red River, a focal point for both history and recreation. The parish is home to a significant portion of Kisatchie National Forest, offering extensive outdoor recreation with over 100 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, alongside opportunities for fishing and camping. Commuting within the parish, particularly between Alexandria and Pineville, is generally manageable, though most residents rely on personal vehicles. Public transit is available in Alexandria and Pineville, offering fixed routes and paratransit services.
Life in Rapides Parish blends small-town charm with access to amenities. The community is characterized by a mix of families and long-time residents, with public schools generally performing above the state average. The economy is diversifying, moving beyond traditional agriculture and forestry. Recent developments indicate growth in manufacturing, particularly in electrical substation components, and the parish is positioning itself to attract investments in data centers and renewable energy, with projects focused on green methanol production. These initiatives are creating new job opportunities and contributing to the economic landscape of the area.
Well below national median
Prices declining
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 3.9x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Beaver Lake Renewable Energy (BLRE) Green Methanol Production Facility
SunGas Renewables
|
$1,800M | Proposed |
|
Project Lightning (Data Center Campus)
Applied Digital Corporation
|
$1,000M | Under Construction |
|
Fabric Care Product Manufacturing Facility Expansion
Procter & Gamble
|
$97M | Planned |
|
Amazon Last-Mile Facility
Amazon
|
$50M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Rapides Parish has a Boom Town Index score of 14/100, ranking #857 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.7% and a median household income of $55,407, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Rapides Parish is $171,400 with median rent at $925/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3233, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: -0.7% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.7%. Home values changed -3.9% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.78% of Rapides Parish's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.