St. Mary Parish
LA · Pop. 48,455 · Suburban County
St. Mary Parish, Louisiana covers 559 square miles with a population of 48,455 and a density of 86.7 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated moderate, built on sugarcane, soybeans, hay. A median home price of $128,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.4% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 9b with a 299-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.7°F and average winter lows of 45.5°F. Annual rainfall averages 60.4 inches, and with drought risk rated very high, water storage and irrigation planning matter. Franklin Foundation Hospital is 12.4 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 84.5% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is high, tornado risk is very high, drought risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A long 299-day growing season in USDA zone 9b supports a wide range of crops and multiple plantings.
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.4% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $128,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
Cons
- Tornado risk is very high, so a storm shelter and wind-resistant structures are practical necessities.
- Drought risk is very high, making water storage and irrigation infrastructure essential rather than optional.
- A poverty rate of 22.1% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
At a glance
St. Mary Parish, LA is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 67/100
- Median home price
- $128k
- Property tax
- 0.4%
- Growing season
- 299 days (zone 9b)
- Annual rainfall
- 60.4"
- Broadband
- 84.5%
- Nearest hospital
- Franklin Foundation Hospital, 12.4 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in St. Mary Parish: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in St. Mary Parish?
- St. Mary Parish is in USDA hardiness zone 9b with a 299-day growing season, average summer highs of 88.7°F, and average winter lows of 45.5°F. The established crops are sugarcane, soybeans, hay.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $128,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.4%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 84.5% of homes, so verify service at a specific parcel before purchasing.
- How close is healthcare?
- Franklin Foundation Hospital is 12.4 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 2 hospitals in the county.
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More counties in Louisiana
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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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