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City · 44,060 residents · Rapides Parish, Louisiana

Alexandria , Louisiana

In Alexandria, a typical home is worth $183,700 and typical rent is $931 a month. Compared with all of Rapides Parish, typical household income is 14% lower and the share of households that own their home is 13 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $183,700

    About the same as the parish

    15% below Louisiana

    • Alexandria
    • Rapides
    • Louisiana

  • Typical rent

    $931a month

    2% below the parish

    13% below Louisiana

    • Alexandria
    • Rapides
    • Louisiana

  • Typical household income

    $47,113a year

    14% below the parish

    22% below Louisiana

    • Alexandria
    • Rapides
    • Louisiana

  • Households that own their home

    52%

    13 points below the parish

    15 points below Louisiana

    • Alexandria
    • Rapides
    • Louisiana

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$143,713
3% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,148 a month
2.1% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Alexandria is in Rapides Parish. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Rapides Parish. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Alexandria apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Oakdale, the typical home value is $98,700: 46% less than in Alexandria ($183,700).

  2. Nearby, in Ville Platte, the typical rent is $656: 30% less than in Alexandria ($931).

  3. 52% of households in Alexandria own their home, against 65% in Rapides Parish.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Alexandria

What homes there are in Alexandria, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Alexandria, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses, about the same as in Rapides Parish.

Year built

In Alexandria, half of the homes were built before 1971; in Rapides Parish, before 1980.

There are fewer big homes in Alexandria than in Rapides Parish: 58% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 68%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 95% of owner-occupied homes in Alexandria are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Rapides Parish ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

About 56% of rented homes in Alexandria cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Rapides Parish ($995); the rest cost more.

With a mortgage

$1,548 a month

Rapides Parish: $1,477 a month

Without a mortgage

$468 a month

Rapides Parish: $419 a month

Owners with a mortgage

50%

Rapides Parish: 50%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Alexandria is $1,548 a month, near the figure in Rapides Parish ($1,477).

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Alexandria rose 23%; in Rapides Parish, it rose 27%.

The typical rent in Alexandria rose 12% over the same time; in Rapides Parish, it rose 16%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureAlexandriaRapides ParishLouisianaUnited States
Rental vacancy 6.8%7.1%7.8%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.4%1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room 2.4%2.2%2.3%3.4%
People per household 2.432.532.492.53
Drive alone 78%80%79%69%
Carpool 8%7%9%9%
Public transit 2%1%1%3%
Walk or bike 2%3%2%3%
Work from home 5%6%8%15%
Other means 5%4%2%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Open rentals in Alexandria look like those in Rapides Parish: the rental vacancy rate is 6.8%.

In Alexandria, 2.4% of households live with more than one person per room, about the same as in Rapides Parish.

By size, households in Alexandria look like those in Rapides Parish: 2.43 people on average.

In Alexandria, 78% of workers drive alone to work; in Rapides Parish, 80%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Alexandria?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Alexandria, worth $183,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 37% of the typical household income in Alexandria, which is $47,113 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $62,345 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Rapides Parish.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Alexandria. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $6,430 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$1,455

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$180,372
Total interest
$259,513
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,102 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,099 a month

  • Tight

    $1,099 to $1,413 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,413 a month

    Your payment · 37%

Compared with the typical household income in Alexandria ($47,113 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,455
Principal & interest$1,222
Property tax$75
Home insurance$77
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$81

You need at least $6,430 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Alexandria and Rapides Parish

Alexandria is in Rapides Parish, Louisiana. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Alexandria's own numbers

Typical home value
$183,700
Typical monthly rent
$931
Typical yearly household income
$47,113
Households that own their home
52%
Effective property tax rate
0.49%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Rapides Parish

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$995
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+25%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Rapides Parish.

Everything about Rapides Parish

Buying

Buying a home in Alexandria

A typical home in Alexandria is worth $183,700: about the same as the parish and 15% below Louisiana. With the typical household income in Alexandria ($47,113 a year), a typical home costs 3.9 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Alexandria 3.9 years
  • Rapides 3.3 years
  • Louisiana 3.6 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Rapides Parish

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Rapides Parish rose 35% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Rapides Parish.

Period Parish Louisiana U.S.
Last year (2025) +1.4% +1.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +25% +22% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +35% +38% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Alexandria next to Rapides Parish, Louisiana and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Alexandria $183,700
  • Rapides $181,100
  • Louisiana $216,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Alexandria $931
  • Rapides $950
  • Louisiana $1,064
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Alexandria $47,113
  • Rapides $54,967
  • Louisiana $60,756
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Alexandria next to Rapides Parish and Louisiana
Measure Alexandria Rapides Parish Louisiana U.S.
Typical home value $183,700 $181,100 $216,500 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $931 $950 $1,064 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $47,113 $54,967 $60,756 $80,734
Households that own their home 52% 65% 67% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $898 $1,000 $1,180 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.49% 0.55% 0.55% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 59% 54% 55% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Rapides Parish. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Alexandria

For a typical $183,700 home in Alexandria, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Alexandria's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,455a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $6,430
    Cash to close
    $11,941
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $81

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,421a month

    Down payment
    $9,185
    Cash to close
    $14,696
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $87

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,147a month

    Down payment
    $36,740
    Cash to close
    $42,251
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,317a month

    Down payment
    $27,555
    Cash to close
    $33,066
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Alexandria and for Rapides Parish.

Property tax

Effective rate in Alexandria

0.49%of the home’s value each year

$898 a year for the typical owner in Alexandria.

  • Alexandria 0.49%
  • Rapides 0.55%
  • Louisiana 0.55%

What Louisiana publishes Homestead exemption: $7,500 of assessed value (Louisiana State Legislature (Louisiana Constitution))

Exemptions and deadlines in Louisiana

Flood risk in Rapides Parish

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Rapides Parish.

FEMA’s maps count no homes in the high-risk zone in Rapides Parish. That does not mean it cannot flood: check your address.

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Alexandria

Typical rent in Alexandria is $931 a month: 2% below the parish. In Alexandria, 59% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Rapides Parish, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($995 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $19.13 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Rapides Parish

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $757 $14.56 $30,280
1 bedroom $796 $15.31 $31,840
2 bedrooms $995 $19.13 $39,800
3 bedrooms $1,341 $25.79 $53,640
4 bedrooms $1,468 $28.23 $58,720

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Alexandria

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Alexandria has 3 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $910 in 71302 to $1,170 in 71303.

1 of the 3 is above the fair market rent for Rapides Parish ($995).

  • 71301 $970$1,310
  • 71302 $910$1,230
  • 71303 $1,170$1,580

3 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Alexandria when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Alexandria

HUD lists 30 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Alexandria. These are the largest.

  • Our Ladys Manor 402 Monroe St, Alexandria 71301 104 low-income homes · For older adults (318) 473-2063
  • England 1943 Dublin Rd, Alexandria 71303 98 low-income homes · For families (318) 442-4526
  • Bethel 724 Willow Glen Riv Rd, Alexandria 71302 90 low-income homes · For families (318) 445-1261
  • River Bend Subdivision 300 Riverbend Dr, Alexandria 71302 64 low-income homes · 3 bd: 1 · In service since 2004 · For people with disabilities, families
  • England Drive SF Housing 2913 Summerwood Ln, Alexandria 71303 39 low-income homes · 4 bd: 1 · In service since 2008 · For families

See all 55 buildings in Rapides Parish Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Alexandria

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Rapides Parish; none says it serves in Spanish.

A man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Alexandria

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Alexandria or Rapides Parish. The ones below are statewide in Louisiana: they work in Alexandria the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Louisiana

  • HomeStart Assist

    Statewide in Louisiana

    Louisiana state corporation 30-year mortgage for first-time buyers with 4% of the loan in assistance, as a 0% second mortgage forgiven after 60 months. Offered by Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

  • HomeStart Advantage

    Statewide in Louisiana

    Louisiana state corporation 30-year mortgage with 4% of the loan in assistance, as a 0% second mortgage forgiven after 60 months; you do not need to be a first-time buyer, but you cannot own another home at closing. Offered by Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Alexandria

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Alexandria, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Cenla Community Action Committee, Incorporated

    2011 Macarthur Dr, Alexandria · 1 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (318) 314-3480

  • Rapides Station Community Ministries

    1429 3rd St, Alexandria · 2 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 7 more
    (318) 487-9254

  • Step Up Acadiana

    601 Loire Ave Ste H, Lafayette · 74 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (337) 484-1501

Every agency in Rapides Parish All counseling agencies in Louisiana

Help in Spanish near Alexandria

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Alexandria

HUD’s record names them for Alexandria or Rapides Parish. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of the City of Alexandria Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (318) 442-8843
  • Housing Authority of Rapides Parish Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (318) 793-4751

One other authority has an office in Rapides Parish: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Rapides Parish

These cities are also in Rapides Parish. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Rapides Parish Housing in Louisiana

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Alexandria, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Rapides Parish is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Alexandria.

All guides
A mother holds hands with her two daughters on the beach at sunset.

Questions

Housing questions about Alexandria

Short answers with the numbers for Alexandria and all of Rapides Parish. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Alexandria?

The typical home value in Alexandria is $183,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Rapides Parish it is $181,100.

How much does it cost to rent in Alexandria?

Typical rent in Alexandria is $931 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Rapides Parish is $995.

What is the FHA loan limit in Alexandria?

Alexandria uses the FHA limit for all of Rapides Parish (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Alexandria?

The typical homeowner in Alexandria pays $898 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.49% of the home’s value; in Rapides Parish, the rate is 0.55%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Alexandria?

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Rapides Parish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).