RANK #832 / 1001 NAT · #14 / 21 LA · POP 56,955
1YR FORECAST: -0.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +14%
Acadia Parish, Louisiana, is known as "America's Rice Capital," with Crowley serving as the parish seat and a hub for rice production and milling. Located in southwest Louisiana, it is situated along Interstate 10, between Lafayette and Lake Charles, making it accessible to larger cities. The community maintains a distinct Cajun culture, influenced by French and German heritage, evident in its food, music, and numerous festivals like the International Rice Festival and the Rayne Frog Festival. Outdoor recreation includes opportunities for camping, fishing, hunting, and boating, with a modified subtropical climate enhancing these activities year-round.
Life in Acadia Parish offers a blend of small-town charm and cultural richness. Many families reside here, with most residents owning their homes. The public school system is considered above average. While personal vehicles are the primary mode of transportation, a regional transit system, Ride Acadiana, connects towns within the parish and to Lafayette, offering options for commuting to work or accessing healthcare and educational opportunities. The economy is largely driven by agriculture, particularly rice and crawfish farming, alongside agribusiness. Recent economic developments include investments in low-carbon and sustainable fuel production, and expanded broadband internet access in communities like Crowley and Church Point, supporting local businesses and families.
Acadia Parish's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +5.7% YoY, population -0.5%, wages +2.1%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 12.9x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: Homicide rates from CDC/NCHS vital-statistics mortality data — a multi-year average that stabilizes counts in smaller counties — compiled in the County Health Rankings 2025 release. Rates per 100,000 population; U.S. average ≈ 6.5. Grade reflects homicide rate relative to the national average. Learn more →
See where Acadia Parish stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Clean Refineries Inc. (CRI) Net-Zero Emissions Refinery
Clean Refineries Inc. (CRI)
|
$1,000M | Proposed |
|
Mowata Solar Farm
Lightsource bp
|
$237M | Under Construction |
|
Tournesol Solar Project
NextEra Energy Resources
|
$159M | Proposed |
|
Evangeline Processing Facility Transformation (Net Zero Emissions Technology Refinery)
Green Fuels Operating PC (GFO)
|
$110M | Under Construction |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Acadia Parish scores just 16/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #832 of 1001 counties. Job growth at +3.5% and median household income of $45,562 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Housing in Acadia Parish is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $155,500 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.29, with rents averaging $681/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Employers in Acadia Parish are hiring — job growth of +3.5% — but the population is close to flat (-0.5% YoY). Home values moved +5.7% over the past year. Labor demand is outpacing local population growth, which tends to tighten wages and housing.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.92% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Acadia Parish has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.
Home values climbed +5.7% year-over-year, which is a solid pace of appreciation. The median home in Acadia Parish is now valued at $155,500. That kind of growth typically reflects sustained demand rather than speculative frenzy.