District 9
RANK #133 / 996 NAT · #4 / 21 LA · POP 69,958
1YR FORECAST: +0.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +34%
Iberia Parish, Louisiana, is known as the birthplace of Tabasco sauce, with the famous factory located on Avery Island. The parish seat, New Iberia, sits on the Bayou Teche, approximately 21 miles southeast of Lafayette. This area, part of the Acadiana region, offers a community feel with a blend of historic architecture and natural scenery. Outdoor recreation opportunities are abundant, with access to the Atchafalaya Basin and the Gulf of Mexico, providing options for fishing, boating, birdwatching, and hiking in places like Lake Fausse Pointe State Park and Cypremort Point State Park.
Life in Iberia Parish often involves a commute, with the average travel time to work being around 25 minutes. The public school system serves the entire parish and is considered above average. The local economy is supported by a workforce engaged in sectors such as energy, manufacturing, and agriculture, particularly sugar cane cultivation. Recent economic developments include investments in infrastructure and expansions in manufacturing, contributing to job creation.
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks undervalued at 3.5x — home prices are low 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.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
First Solar Manufacturing Facility
First Solar, Inc.
|
$1,100M | Operating |
|
Morbihan Battery Energy Storage System
Undisclosed (subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC)
|
$120M | Planned |
|
Hangar Drive Reconstruction and Extension
Iberia Parish Government
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Iberia BioInnovation Accelerator & NIRC Expansion
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
|
$47M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Iberia Parish ranks #133 out of 996 U.S. counties on the Boom Town Index with a score of 87/100, putting it in the top tier nationally. Job growth of +1.7% and a median household income of $55,190 point to a county with active economic momentum.
By national standards, Iberia Parish is quite affordable. Homes here have a median value of $152,400, and the income-to-home-value ratio of 0.36 is well above the U.S. average — especially with median rent at just $846/month. Residents can generally buy a home without being cost-burdened.
It's a mixed picture in Iberia Parish. The population is declining (-0.8% YoY), but employers are actually hiring — job growth is at +1.7%. Home values moved -3.4% in the last year. That tension between shrinking population and expanding employment often signals a county in transition.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.18% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Iberia Parish has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.