RANK #577 / 1001 NAT · #9 / 21 LA · POP 130,314
1YR FORECAST: +0.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +17%
Gonzales, known as the "Jambalaya Capital of the World," hosts an annual festival celebrating the iconic Cajun dish, drawing many visitors. Ascension Parish is located in southeast Louisiana, positioned along the Mississippi River between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Commuting is common, with many residents traveling to Baton Rouge for work, though traffic on I-10 and Highway 30 can be heavy. The community offers a blend of suburban living with a Southern feel. Outdoor recreation includes parks like Jambalaya Park and Duplessis Park, offering walking trails and playgrounds. The Houmas House Estate and Gardens, a historic sugar plantation, provides a glimpse into the region's past with its architecture and extensive gardens.
Life in Ascension Parish often involves families drawn by the highly rated public school system. The parish has experienced consistent population growth, fueled by job creation and industrial expansion. The economy is driven by heavy industry and manufacturing, particularly chemical and petrochemical production, with facilities located along the Mississippi River. This industrial base creates opportunities for a range of supporting businesses and contributes significantly to the local economy. The parish also has a strong agricultural heritage, notably in sugarcane production.
Ascension Parish's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +2.9% YoY, population +1.3%, wages +1.4%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 9.9x — 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 Ascension Parish stands nationally: safest large counties in America · highest homicide-rate counties.
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Ascension Clean Energy (ACE) Hydrogen-Ammonia Production Facility
Clean Hydrogen Works (in partnership with Denbury Carbon Solutions and Hafnia)
|
$7,500M | Proposed |
|
Hyundai Steel Plant
Hyundai Steel Company
|
$5,800M | Planned |
|
Air Products Blue Hydrogen Manufacturing Complex
Air Products
|
$4,500M | Under Construction |
|
CF Industries Low-Carbon Ammonia Facility
CF Industries
|
$4,000M | Under Construction |
|
Renewable Energy Group (REG) Biorefinery Expansion
Renewable Energy Group Inc.
|
$825M | Completed |
|
Capchem USA Lithium-ion Battery Materials Plant
Capchem USA
|
$350M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Ascension Parish scores 42/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#577). Median household income is $91,549 and job growth is running at -0.3%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Ascension Parish is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $279,600 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.33, with rents averaging $1,318/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Ascension Parish's population is growing — up +1.3% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.3%). Home values shifted +2.9% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.27% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Ascension Parish has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.