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St. Landry Parish, LA

RANK #891 / 996  ·  POP 82,574  ·  LA

PROJECTED GROWTH: -1.5%

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

[01] Why St. Landry Parish?

St. Landry Parish, located just north of Lafayette, Louisiana, is known for its rich Cajun and Creole heritage, with Opelousas recognized as the Zydeco Music Capital of the World. The parish offers a blend of cultural experiences, from lively music festivals to historic towns like Washington, where 80% of the town is on the National Register of Historic Places. Outdoor enthusiasts can explore the Atchafalaya River Basin, paddle the Bayou Teche, or go birdwatching in wildlife management areas. Commute options within the parish and to nearby Lafayette are available via major highways like I-49 and US-190.

Life in St. Landry Parish offers a balance of community and access to outdoor activities. The St. Landry Parish School Board oversees 34 schools, including elementary, junior high, and high schools, with options like the French Immersion charter elementary school, École Saint-Landry. The economy is diverse, with agriculture playing a significant role, growing nearly every major crop in the state. Recent economic developments include efforts to attract manufacturing firms and investments in industrial and logistics sectors, leveraging the parish's transportation infrastructure.

[02] Market Snapshot

Housing Ratio
5.0x

Above national median (4.7x)

GDP Growth
+2.2%

Below national median

Home Prices
-9.2%

Prices declining

Climate & Terrain
-0.7

Below-average climate & terrain

Price/Rent
17x

Above national median (13x)

Housing is fairly valued at 5.0x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.

[03] Signal Profile

[04] Home Value Growth vs National

St. Landry Parish U.S. National

The Numbers

DEMOGRAPHICS
Population
82,574
-0.51% YoY
Median Household Income
$44,478
Median Home Value
$148,400
-9.24% 12mo
Median Rent
$739
Average Annual Pay
$47,117
+1.8% YoY
Employment
23,554
-1.0% YoY
Income-to-Home-Value
0.2997
More affordable than average
Migration Inflow
1.98%
of pop. from another state

Market Activity

REAL ESTATE
Median Sale Price
$172,500
Days on Market
111
Slower market
Months of Supply
6.0
Buyer's market
Sale-to-List Ratio
92.4%
Negotiation room for buyers
Sold Above List
5.4%
Listings w/ Price Drops
25.1%
Building Permits (2024)
139
Single-Family Permits
139

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

[05] Capital Investment

$850M
TOTAL
PROJECT AMOUNT STATUS
Walmart Distribution Center Modernization
Walmart
$330M Under Construction
West Fork Wind Project
AES and Cordillera (potential developers)
$200M Planned
Prairie Ronde Solar Project
Lightsource bp
$170M Operating
St. Landry Solar Project
NextEra Energy Resources
$150M Proposed

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

[06] Score Breakdown

GDP Growth +2.2% 40 percentile
Population Growth -0.5% 10 percentile
Income Growth +8.3% 43 percentile
Vacancy Rate 1.4% 25 percentile
Price/Rent 17x 21 percentile

Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.

[07] Frequently Asked Questions

Is St. Landry Parish, LA a good place to move to?

St. Landry Parish has a Boom Town Index score of 11/100, ranking #891 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at -1.0% and a median household income of $44,478, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.

Is St. Landry Parish affordable?

The median home value in St. Landry Parish is $148,400 with median rent at $739/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.2997, which is more affordable than the national average.

Is St. Landry Parish growing or shrinking?

Population growth: -0.5% year-over-year. Job growth: -1.0%. Home values changed -9.2% in the past 12 months.

[08] Similar Metros

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