Rapides Parish, Louisiana Income Statistics
Rapides Parish Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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D
Rapides Parish Well below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Rapides Parish | Louisiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $55,466 | $60,934 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $49,489 | $53,184 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.5% | 3.7% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.0% | 9.7% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 6.3% | 7.8% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Rapides Parish is about 9% lower than in Louisiana. Income has been growing slower in Rapides Parish (3.5%/yr) than in Louisiana (3.7%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Rapides Parish earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Louisiana average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Rapides Parish, Louisiana grew by 40.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $55,466 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Rapides Parish
| Metric | Rapides Parish | Louisiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.568 | 0.574 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $59,591 | $65,171 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $44,128 | $47,031 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 25.9% | 27.8% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Rapides Parish, it is 0.568, lower than Louisiana's 0.574, so income is more evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 35% more than women's income in Rapides Parish, Louisiana. Over a 35-year career, a 35% wage gap accumulates to roughly $541,205 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rapides Parish, Louisiana has narrowed from about 32% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 24% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,685 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Rapides Parish | Louisiana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1% | 6.2% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 5.5% | 8.1% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 21 | 22 |
Approximately 2,960 people are unemployed in Rapides Parish, Louisiana.
The average commute time in Rapides Parish is 17 minutes, shorter than the 21 minutes in Louisiana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Rapides Parish, Louisiana has fallen from 7.6% to 5.1% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.6% in 2013 and fell as low as 4.8% in 2023.
Rapides Parish, LA Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Rapides Parish, LA is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 127,522 residents against a local median of 22,477. Rapides Parish, LA's unemployment, at 5.1%, runs 26% below the 6.9% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 3.5%/yr against a local median of 4.3%/yr, 19% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so Rapides Parish, LA is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 6.1% on unemployment, so Rapides Parish, LA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Rapides Parish, LA has the 3rd lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapides Parish, LA | 127,522 | $55,466 #3/6 | 3.5%/yr #4/6 | 5.1% #3/6 | 0.568 #1/6 |
| Grant Parish, LA | 22,095 | $63,876 | 6.1%/yr | 3.7% | 0.633 |
| Evangeline Parish, LA | 32,054 | $42,481 | 4.3%/yr | 9.8% | 0.596 |
| Avoyelles Parish, LA | 38,905 | $39,426 | 1.6%/yr | 6.9% | 0.595 |
| LaSalle Parish, LA | 14,789 | $63,958 | 8.0%/yr | 4.9% | 0.584 |
| Allen Parish, LA | 22,477 | $46,723 | 1.7%/yr | 9.8% | 0.610 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Rapides Parish, Louisiana has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Louisiana, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Rapides Parish, Louisiana.
How Rich Is Rapides Parish, Louisiana?
Rapides Parish has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $55,466, about 9% lower than the Louisiana average of $60,934.
How has median household income changed in Rapides Parish, Louisiana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Rapides Parish, Louisiana rose 41%, from $39,454 to $55,466. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Louisiana as a whole: +41% against +44%.
What was the median household income in Rapides Parish in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Rapides Parish, Louisiana was $56,047, up 1% from $55,471 in 2022. The Louisiana median that year was $60,038.
What was the median household income in Rapides Parish in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Rapides Parish, Louisiana was $47,951. By 2024 it had risen 16% to $55,466.
What is the Gini coefficient in Rapides Parish, Louisiana?
The Gini coefficient in Rapides Parish is 0.568. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Rapides Parish, Louisiana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Rapides Parish, Louisiana has narrowed from about 32% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 24% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $2,685 since 2009.
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