St. Martin Parish, LA Local Data & Statistics

State: LA

Total population: 51,353 Household income: $55,960 Rent: $870

Overview

Total population

51,353

Rent

$870

Year built

1986

Household income

$55,960

Per capita income

$31,041

Poverty rate

15.3%

Unemployment rate

3.7%

Household size

2.6 persons

Rent over 30% of income

34.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Louisiana

Total population

51,353

Adults over 25

34,998

Total households

19,579

Household size

2.6 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$55,960

Per capita income

$31,041

Poverty rate

15.3%

Unemployment rate

3.7%

Rent over 30% of income

34.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$870

Year built

1986

Households that rent

22.3%

Households that own

77.7%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.3

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

63.4%

Black

28.6%

Asian

0.8%

Two or more races

6.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

3.6%

Not Hispanic or Latino

96.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

91.9%

Commute time to work

27 mins

Work from home

8.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

29.2%

High school graduate or GED

43.6%

Some college or associate degree

10.4%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

16.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of St. Martin Parish, LA with: Lafayette Metro Area, LA Louisiana United States

St. Martin Parish, LA

Total population51,353

Rent$870

Year built1986

Household income$55,960

Per capita income$31,041

Poverty rate15.3%

Unemployment rate3.7%

Lafayette Metro Area, LA

Total population413,428

Rent$977

Year built1987

Household income$60,892

Per capita income$35,892

Poverty rate18.4%

Unemployment rate3.8%

Louisiana State

Total population4,611,961

Rent$1,064

Year built1983

Household income$60,756

Per capita income$35,038

Poverty rate18.9%

Unemployment rate4.3%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	ParishSt. Martin Parish, LA	Metro AreaLafayette Metro Area, LA	StateLouisiana	CountryUnited States
Total population	51,353	413,428	4,611,961	334,922,499
Rent	$870	$977	$1,064	$1,413
Year built	1986	1987	1983	1980
Household income	$55,960	$60,892	$60,756	$80,734
Per capita income	$31,041	$35,892	$35,038	$44,673
Poverty rate	15.3%	18.4%	18.9%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.7%	3.8%	4.3%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for St. Martin Parish, LA

St. Martin Parish is located in Louisiana .

Rent & Income

In St. Martin Parish, the monthly rent is $870 and household income is $55,960. Rent is lower than both Louisiana and the U.S., and household income is lower than both Louisiana and the U.S. The poverty rate is 15.3%, which is lower than Louisiana and higher than the national rate.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 22.3% of households. Around 34.2% of renters are cost-burdened, indicating a moderate level of rent pressure.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is relatively low, with about 16.8% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The unemployment rate is 3.7%, which is lower than both Louisiana and the national rate.

St. Martin Parish, LA — Rent vs Household Income

St. Martin Parish, LA — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in St. Martin Parish, LA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $870 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in St. Martin Parish, LA

Annual Household Income: $55,960

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in St. Martin Parish, LA

Estimated Rate: 15.3%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in St. Martin Parish, LA

In St. Martin Parish, LA, households that rent: 4,361 (22.3%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	4,361	22.3%
Owner-Occupied	15,218	77.7%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in St. Martin Parish, LA

In St. Martin Parish, LA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 1,492 (34.2%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	1,492	34.2%
Other renter households	2,869	65.8%
Total renter households	4,361	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in St. Martin Parish, LA

Less than High School: 10,203 people (29.2%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 15,271 people (43.6%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 3,657 people (10.4%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 5,867 people (16.8%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 34,998

📊 Unemployment Rate in St. Martin Parish, LA

Estimated Rate: 3.7%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.