Is Lafayette Parish, LA good for real estate investing?

Lafayette Parish has an investment score of 63/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #254 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Lafayette Parish?

The rent-to-price ratio in Lafayette Parish is 6.92% annually, which ranks in the 74th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Lafayette Parish?

The median home price in Lafayette Parish is $230,987. This ranks #488 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Lafayette Parish?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Lafayette Parish would generate negative cash flow of $346/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Lafayette Parish

LouisianaPopulation: 243,175

/100

Buy

#254 of 1,000 counties

#16 in Louisiana (64 counties)

Market Snapshot

$230,987

Median Home Price

1% below national median

$1,331/mo

Median Rent

12% below national median

6.92%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 26% nationally

-$346

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$230,987

Down Payment (20%)$46,197

Loan Amount$184,790

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,331

Monthly P&I-$1,211

Est. Expenses (35%)-$466

Net Cash Flow-$346/mo

4.5%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-7.8%

Cash-on-Cash Return

6.92%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.5% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

63/100

Cash Flow(30%)

69/100

Based on 6.92% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

56/100

Based on 0.6% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

78/100

Price-to-income ratio of 3.5x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Above-average rent-to-price ratio (6.92%)
+Affordable relative to local incomes
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$346/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 4.5% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

243,175

Median Income

$66,617

vs $57,018 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

3.5x

Moderately affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
Ascension ParishLA	64	$303,167	$1,763	6.98%	Buy	View
CurrentLafayette ParishLA	63	$230,987	$1,331	6.92%	Buy
West Feliciana ParishLA	63	$371,925	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
Plaquemines ParishLA	62	$266,075	$1,700	7.67%	Buy	View
Rapides ParishLA	61	$165,369	$972	7.05%	Buy	View
Bossier ParishLA	61	$237,022	$1,359	6.88%	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

BuyLafayette Parish offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Lafayette Parish in Louisiana scores 63/100, ranking #254 of 1,000 US counties (top 34%). The 6.92% rent-to-price ratio indicates moderate cash flow potential. Current market conditions make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or all-cash purchases.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-346/mo

Cap Rate

4.5%

Cash-on-Cash

-7.8%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Lafayette Parish?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties.

Single Family1-4 unit rentals, BRRRR House HackOwner-occupied strategy Multifamily5+ unit properties

Explore Other Markets

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$230,987

Down Payment (20%)$46,197

Loan Amount$184,790

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,331

Monthly P&I-$1,211

Est. Expenses (35%)-$466

Net Cash Flow-$346/mo

4.5%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-7.8%

Cash-on-Cash Return

6.92%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.5% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

63/100

Cash Flow(30%)

69/100

Based on 6.92% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

56/100

Based on 0.6% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

78/100

Price-to-income ratio of 3.5x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
Ascension ParishLA	64	$303,167	$1,763	6.98%	Buy	View
CurrentLafayette ParishLA	63	$230,987	$1,331	6.92%	Buy
West Feliciana ParishLA	63	$371,925	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
Plaquemines ParishLA	62	$266,075	$1,700	7.67%	Buy	View
Rapides ParishLA	61	$165,369	$972	7.05%	Buy	View
Bossier ParishLA	61	$237,022	$1,359	6.88%	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

BuyLafayette Parish offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-346/mo

Cap Rate

4.5%

Cash-on-Cash

-7.8%