RANK #542 / 1001 NAT · #14 / 21 LA · POP 96,252
1YR FORECAST: -2.2%
5YR OUTLOOK: +28%
Lafourche Parish, Louisiana, often called "The Longest Street in America," is defined by Bayou Lafourche, which stretches 100 miles from the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. This waterway shaped early settlement patterns, with homes lining its banks for miles, creating a distinctive linear community. Located southwest of New Orleans, about 60 miles away, and 65 miles south of Baton Rouge, the parish offers a rural feel with access to larger cities. Commutes vary, with many residents traveling to neighboring Terrebonne Parish for work. Outdoor recreation is prominent, featuring swamp tours, fishing, and birdwatching at sites like the Lockport Elevated Boardwalk.
Life in Lafourche Parish centers around its Cajun culture and natural surroundings. The public school system, headquartered in Thibodaux, serves over 14,000 students across its elementary, middle, and high schools. The economy is deeply tied to its natural resources and strategic location. Major investment flows into the energy sector, particularly at Port Fourchon, which serves as a vital hub for Gulf of Mexico oil production. Additionally, the parish maintains a strong agricultural presence, ranking highly in sugar, citrus, and beef production, alongside a significant seafood industry.
Lafourche Parish is one of 11 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -1.5% matches the profile's typical -1.1%.
See all 11 Persistent Housing Weakness counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Moderate climate & terrain
Housing looks overvalued at 7.8x — 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: 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 →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Argent LNG Export Facility
Argent LNG
|
$25,000M | Planned |
|
Diamond Offshore Wind Farm
Diamond Offshore Wind (Mitsubishi subsidiary)
|
$50M | Planned |
|
Port Fourchon Wind Turbine
Gulf Wind Technology
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Thibodaux Solar Project (Sunbeam 2)
D.E. Shaw Investments
|
$50M | Proposed |
|
McLeod Business Park Development
Lafourche Parish Government
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Lafourche Parish scores 45/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#542). Median household income is $63,135 and job growth is running at +0.5%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Housing in Lafourche Parish is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $193,900 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.33, with rents averaging $928/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Population and employment in Lafourche Parish are both close to flat — population -0.4% YoY and jobs +0.5%. Home values shifted -1.5% over the past 12 months. A steady-state county, neither expanding quickly nor shrinking.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.7% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Lafourche Parish has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.