Avoyelles Parish

Avoyelles Parish sits at a median home price of $133,617, up 3.86% year-over-year, with an affordability index of 100, the highest possible score in this dataset. The cash flow score is listed at zero and the cap rate field is unpopulated, which tells you something important before you even run a pro forma: the tool does not have sufficient rent data here to model returns, so you are working with incomplete inputs. What the data does confirm is that this is one of the most affordable entry points in Louisiana, ranking first in the state out of 64 parishes and 14th nationally out of 1,000 counties, landing in the 98th percentile for overall investment attractiveness. The appreciation score of 83 suggests the market scores well on price trajectory relative to peers, and at $133,617 the absolute dollar exposure is low enough that even modest rent income can generate acceptable yields if you source rents independently before underwriting.

The profile here suits a specific type of buyer. At this price point, a cash-flow-oriented investor willing to do their own rent survey has a low basis to work with, which means the margin for error on monthly income is wider than in higher-priced markets. A 20% down payment is roughly $26,723, keeping equity at risk modest. The appreciation score of 83 also makes a case for a patient buy-and-hold operator who believes the 3.86% annual price gain continues, though that gain off a $133,617 base produces smaller absolute dollar returns than the same percentage applied to a $300,000 asset. This is not a market for an investor chasing institutional-scale appreciation plays. It is a market for someone who wants low acquisition cost, manageable carry, and is willing to operate at a smaller scale.

The carry cost picture is genuinely favorable. At a state-average effective property tax rate of 0.55%, Louisiana's rate is low, a real tailwind for cash-flow underwriting. The tax flag is marked "low," and with an annual property tax estimate of $735 on this purchase price and annual insurance of $882, the combined monthly tax and insurance burden is $135. That is a meaningful advantage over higher-tax states where the same $134,000 property might carry $300 or more per month in taxes and insurance alone. Keep in mind this is a state-average effective rate per Tax Foundation 2024 data, and actual parish or township rates in Avoyelles may differ, so confirm the specific millage before closing. Even with some variance, the directional read is that carrying costs here are below the national norm.

The data does not include economic anchor employers for Avoyelles Parish, so no specific employer-level demand drivers can be cited. What the population figure of 39,529 does indicate is a small, rural market. Concentration risk is real at this scale: a single employer departure, a demographic outflow, or a disruption to a dominant local industry can move vacancy rates in ways that a larger metro can absorb without noticing. A stability score of 50, directly in the middle of the range, reinforces that this market neither offers the protection of a diversified urban economy nor the distress of a clearly declining one. Investors should independently verify local employment trends and absorption rates before committing.

Compared to its neighbors, Avoyelles Parish holds the lowest median home price in the peer group at $133,617, edging out Caldwell Parish at $127,430 for similar price territory and sitting well below Calcasieu at $193,360 and Sabine at $186,542. Iberia Parish is nearly price-equivalent at $134,124 but carries a rent-to-price ratio of 10.63%, which is a concrete cash-flow signal the Avoyelles data cannot match at this time. Calcasieu shows a rent-to-price ratio of 6.59% on a higher price base. If your underwriting priority is a documented rent-to-price ratio before you commit capital, Iberia Parish gives you that number at a nearly identical entry price and scores 69 overall compared to Avoyelles at 78. The reason to choose Avoyelles over Iberia or Calcasieu is if your local diligence surfaces rents that the dataset does not yet capture, or if you are buying on price alone and plan to operate at a basis low enough that the income threshold for returns is minimal. Avoyelles earns its top state ranking on affordability and appreciation trajectory, but any investor running this seriously needs to fill the rent data gap with primary research before the numbers tell a complete story.