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Buying a home in Louisiana

The typical owner-occupied home in Louisiana is worth about $216,500, 35% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,180 a year in property taxes, about 0.55% of their home's value, lower than the national rate of 0.94%. The median household earns $60,756 a year, so the median home costs 3.6 times the median income (4.1 times for the U.S.). 67% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 52% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Louisiana at a glance

Louisiana U.S.
Median home value $216,500 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,180 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.55% 0.94%
Median household income $60,756 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 67% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 52% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,604 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 20.4% 21.0%
Median rent $1,064 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 32.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1983 1980
Vacant homes 14.4% 10.1%
Population 4,611,961 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Louisiana

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Louisiana home of $216,500 with 20% down costs about $1,355 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,715, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $58,053 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 27% of the median Louisiana household income of $60,756; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $227,000.

The median rent here is $1,064 a month, so owning the median home costs about $291 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$43,300
Loan amount$173,200
Principal and interest$1,165
Property taxes (0.55% a year)$99
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$90
PMI$0
Total per month$1,355

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$7,578
Loan amount$212,579
Principal and interest$1,430
Property taxes (0.55% a year)$99
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$90
FHA mortgage insurance$96
Total per month$1,715

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Questions about home buying in Louisiana

What is the median home value in Louisiana?

About $216,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Louisiana?

Homeowners pay a median $1,180 a year, which is about 0.55% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Louisiana?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,355 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $58,053 a year.

More about Louisiana

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data