RANK #964 / 1001 NAT · #21 / 21 LA · POP 51,396
1YR FORECAST: -2.7%
5YR OUTLOOK: +12%
St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, known as the "Parish of Plenty," is distinguished by its location along the Mississippi River and its historical ties to the 18th-century German Coast settlement. This area, approximately 25 miles west of New Orleans, offers a blend of rural charm and convenient access to a major city. Commute times to New Orleans by car are around 37 minutes. The parish is bisected by the Mississippi River, with communities like Destrehan and Luling on either side, connected by the Hale Boggs Bridge. Outdoor recreation is available at places like Wetland Watchers Park, offering nature walks, fishing, and camping, and the Bonnet Carré Spillway, which provides trails for mountain biking and birdwatching.
Life in St. Charles Parish often appeals to families, drawn by its highly-rated public school system. The economy, historically agricultural, transitioned to industry in the 20th century with the rise of energy and petrochemical sectors. Recent economic developments show continued investment in these areas, alongside growth in transportation and alternative fuels. The parish's position within the Port of South Louisiana, a major port district, further contributes to its economic landscape.
St. Charles 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 +1.4% runs above the profile's typical -1.1%.
See all 11 Persistent Housing Weakness counties →Below national median (11.3x)
Below national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing is fairly valued at 6.6x 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 →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
St. Charles Clean Fuels (Blue Ammonia and Hydrogen Production)
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners & Sustainable Fuels Group
|
$4,600M | Proposed |
|
Southern Energy Renewables Aviation Fuel Production Facility
Southern Energy Renewables
|
$1,400M | Planned |
|
St. Charles Power Station (Natural Gas)
Entergy Louisiana LLC
|
$870M | Operating |
|
Entergy Louisiana Generation Facility at Waterford Site (supporting Meta data center)
Entergy Louisiana
|
$550M | Planned |
|
Drainage, Road, Residential Elevations and Water Infrastructure Improvements (Grant Pipeline)
St. Charles Parish Government
|
$129M | Proposed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
The data is not encouraging — St. Charles Parish scores just 3/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #964 of 1001 counties. Job growth at -11.6% and median household income of $80,897 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Housing in St. Charles Parish is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $263,700 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.31, with rents averaging $1,210/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Both population (-0.9% YoY) and employment (-11.6%) are contracting in St. Charles Parish, though housing tells its own story with values moving +1.4% over the past 12 months. This is a county where the trend lines are pointing in the wrong direction.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 3.6% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests St. Charles Parish has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.