Ouachita County
LA · Pop. 158,916 · Mixed County
Ouachita Parish sits in Louisiana across 610 square miles, home to 158,916 people at 260.5 per square mile, a more developed setting where truly rural parcels are scarcer. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on cotton, soybeans, corn. The median home price is $183,000, with an effective property tax rate of 0.56%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 251-day growing season, average summer highs of 93.3°F and average winter lows of 37.4°F. Annual rainfall averages 54.7 inches, and with drought risk rated high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Ouachita Community Hospital is 1.5 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 94.5% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is very high, tornado risk is very high, wildfire risk is high, drought risk is high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 251-day growing season in USDA zone 8b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.56% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $183,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Broadband reaches 94.5% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- Ouachita Community Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 1.5 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
Cons
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- Flood risk is very high, so careful parcel siting and flood insurance are essential.
- A poverty rate of 24% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
- At 260.5 people per square mile, this is a developed area where finding truly rural acreage is harder and pricier.
At a glance
Ouachita County, LA is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 63/100
- Median home price
- $183k
- Property tax
- 0.56%
- Growing season
- 251 days (zone 8b)
- Annual rainfall
- 54.7"
- Broadband
- 94.5%
- Nearest hospital
- Ouachita Community Hospital, 1.5 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Ouachita County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Ouachita Parish?
- Ouachita Parish is in USDA hardiness zone 8b with a 251-day growing season, average summer highs of 93.3°F, and average winter lows of 37.4°F. The established crops are cotton, soybeans, corn.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $183,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.56%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 94.5% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- Ouachita Community Hospital is 1.5 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 9 hospitals in the county.
Explore Louisiana Resources
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LandWatch
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Lands of America
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AcreTrader
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More counties in Louisiana
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The closest counties to Ouachita County by distance, including across state lines.
Data sources
Verified
Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.
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