Español

Este sitio también está en español. Leer en español

Parish in Louisiana

East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana

East Baton Rouge Parish is the most populous parish in Louisiana, with 452,938 residents. East Baton Rouge Parish has an FHA limit of $541,287 for one-unit homes. The typical home value here is $248,800. HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,149 a month; to pay it without spending more than 30% of your income, you need to earn about $22.10 an hour.

WhatsApp

  • Typical home price

    $248,800

    +15% vs. Louisiana −25% vs. U.S.

    Half of owner-occupied homes are worth more and half are worth less.

    • East Baton Rouge
    • Louisiana
    • United States

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

  • Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms

    $1,149 a month

    −1% vs. Louisiana −34% vs. U.S.

    HUD's reference rent for a two-bedroom apartment, with basic utilities.

    • East Baton Rouge
    • Louisiana
    • United States

    Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

  • FHA limit 2026, 1 unit

    $541,287

    FHA national floor limit

    The most you can borrow with an FHA loan for a one-unit home here.

    • East Baton Rouge
    • Floor
    • Ceiling

    Source: HUD, 2026 data

  • Property tax

    0.67% of value per year

    +22% vs. Louisiana −29% vs. U.S.

    $1,656 a year for the typical owner

    • East Baton Rouge
    • Louisiana
    • United States

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$231,673
2.1% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,307 a month
2.4% more than 12 months ago

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

Data from October 2026

In short

What is housing like in East Baton Rouge Parish today?

The monthly payment on a typical home with FHA would be about $2,008, that is, 38% of the typical household income in East Baton Rouge Parish. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $86,038 a year; the typical income here is $63,071. Homes here are worth 15% more than the average across Louisiana. Here 59% of households live in a home they own; across Louisiana it is 67%. The typical property tax is $1,656 a year (about 0.67% of home value), higher than in Louisiana.

Renting is a stretch: 57% of renters put 30% or more of their income toward housing.

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

Only here

What sets East Baton Rouge Parish apart

  1. Among the neighboring parishes, St. Helena Parish has the lowest typical home value ($77,300), 69% below the $248,800 in East Baton Rouge Parish.

  2. 19% of homes in East Baton Rouge Parish (28,633) are in FEMA's high-risk flood zone, and only 57% of those carry NFIP flood insurance.

  3. East Baton Rouge Parish has the 3rd highest effective property tax rate of the 62 parishes in Louisiana with this figure (0.67%).

  4. Nearby, in Iberville Parish, the typical rent is $827: 28% less than in East Baton Rouge Parish ($1,147).

  5. From 2020 to 2025, home prices in East Baton Rouge Parish rose 23% on FHFA's index, about the same as in Louisiana (22%).

  6. At 59%, East Baton Rouge Parish ranks 6th among the 64 parishes in Louisiana for the lowest homeownership rate.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); FEMA (As of August 3, 2026); FHFA (2025 data).

The homes here

Housing in East Baton Rouge Parish

What homes there are in East Baton Rouge Parish, 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

Detached houses are the majority in East Baton Rouge Parish (62%), but less so than in Louisiana (65%).

Year built

The typical year built in East Baton Rouge Parish is 1984, about the same as in Louisiana (1983).

Homes in East Baton Rouge Parish are smaller: 62% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Louisiana, 66%.

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

By price, most homes in East Baton Rouge Parish sit under the FHA limit for this parish ($541,287): about 88%.

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for this parish is $1,149: about 48% of rents in East Baton Rouge Parish are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,703 a month

Louisiana: $1,604 a month

Without a mortgage

$533 a month

Louisiana: $442 a month

Owners with a mortgage

61%

Louisiana: 52%

Owning costs more in East Baton Rouge Parish: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,703 a month; in Louisiana, $1,604. Without one, $533.

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

Homes in East Baton Rouge Parish gained value more slowly than in Louisiana: 28% since 2015–2019, against 33%.

Rents in East Baton Rouge Parish rose at about the same pace as in Louisiana: 23% since 2015–2019, against 23%.

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 15%, while home values changed +28% and rent +23%.

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

MeasureEast Baton Rouge ParishLouisianaUnited States
Rental vacancy 11.1%7.8%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy 1.6%1.3%0.9%
More than one person per room 2.4%2.3%3.4%
People per household 2.472.492.53
Drive alone 77%79%69%
Carpool 10%9%9%
Public transit 1%1%3%
Walk or bike 2%2%3%
Work from home 9%8%15%
Other means 1%2%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

The rental vacancy rate in East Baton Rouge Parish is 11.1%, higher than in Louisiana (7.8%).

In East Baton Rouge Parish, 2.4% of households live with more than one person per room, about the same as in Louisiana.

By size, households in East Baton Rouge Parish look like those in Louisiana: 2.47 people on average.

In East Baton Rouge Parish, 77% of workers drive alone to work; in Louisiana, 79%.

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 in East Baton Rouge Parish?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home of $248,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 38% of the typical household income here, which is $63,071 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $86,038 a year.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in East Baton Rouge Parish. 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 $8,708 (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

$2,008

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$244,294
Total interest
$351,481
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,202 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,472 a month

  • Tight

    $1,472 to $1,892 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,892 a month

    Your payment · 38%

Compared with the typical household income in East Baton Rouge Parish ($63,071 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,008
Principal & interest$1,655
Property tax$139
Home insurance$104
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$110

You need at least $8,708 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.

Buying a home

Buying a home in East Baton Rouge Parish

Here you'll see how prices have changed, how East Baton Rouge Parish compares with Louisiana and the country, and what you'd pay each month with four kinds of loans.

How have home prices changed?

According to the FHFA House Price Index, home prices in East Baton Rouge Parish rose 42% in the 10 years through 2025. FHFA's index follows the price of the same homes over the years.

Period Here Louisiana United States
In 2025 +2.9% +1.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +23% +22% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +42% +38% +85%
See each year's change

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

East Baton Rouge Parish compared with Louisiana and the United States

Home value, rent and household income, side by side. "Typical" is the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • East Baton Rouge $248,800
  • Louisiana $216,500
  • United States $332,700
Typical rent a month
  • East Baton Rouge $1,147
  • Louisiana $1,064
  • United States $1,413
Typical household income a year
  • East Baton Rouge $63,071
  • Louisiana $60,756
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
East Baton Rouge compared with Louisiana and the United States
MeasureHereLouisianaU.S.
Residents452,9384,611,961334,922,499
Typical home value$248,800$216,500$332,700
Typical household income$63,071$60,756$80,734
Typical rent$1,147$1,064$1,413
Fair Market Rent (2 bedrooms)$1,149$1,161$1,750
Hourly wage to rent a 2-bedroom$22.10$22.33$33.65
Typical property tax$1,656$1,180$3,119
Effective tax rate0.67%0.55%0.94%
Households that own their home59%67%65%
Renters spending 30% or more on rent57%55%51%
FHA limit (1 unit)*$541,287$541,287$541,287

FHA limit: Louisiana shows the median of its counties; the United States, the national floor. Download CSV

Four ways to pay for a typical home in East Baton Rouge Parish

For a typical $248,800 home at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, the county's property tax, an example homeowners insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

Loan Monthly payment Down payment Loan amount Rate Mortgage insurance Cash to close Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down $2,008 $8,708 $244,294 7.18% FHA MIP · $110 $16,172 580
Conventional, 5% down $1,962 $12,440 $236,360 7.18% PMI · $118 $19,904 620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,591 $49,760 $199,040 7.18% None $57,224 620*
ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,821 $37,320 $211,480 8.18% None $44,784 Set by the lender
  • 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.

Everything about buying in East Baton Rouge Parish: income, limits and help How much house can I afford? Closing costs

Loan limits

FHA loans in East Baton Rouge Parish use the national floor limit: it isn't a high-cost area. If the loan you need is above these amounts, it doesn't fit FHA or it becomes a "jumbo" loan.

VA loans. If you have full VA entitlement, VA doesn't cap the loan amount. If you've used part of your entitlement, the calculation uses the county limit ($832,750 for one unit). VA loan limits (va.gov)

USDA loans. They're for homes in eligible rural areas and households with incomes within USDA's limit. Check whether the address and your income qualify on the official site. USDA eligibility (usda.gov)

Home type FHA limit Conforming limit
1 unit $541,287 $832,750
2 units $693,050 $1,066,250
3 units $837,700 $1,288,800
4 units $1,041,125 $1,601,750

Source: HUD, 2026 data · Source: FHFA, 2026 data

Taxes and risks

Property tax and flooding in East Baton Rouge Parish

Two costs that change a lot from place to place and that a house payment does include: property tax and, in risk zones, flood insurance.

Property tax

In East Baton Rouge Parish, the typical owner pays $1,656 a year: about 0.67% of the home's value. That is more than the rest of Louisiana and less than the national average.

  • East Baton Rouge 0.67%
  • Louisiana 0.55%
  • United States 0.94%

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

Exemptions and deadlines in Louisiana

Is there a flood risk?

According to FEMA, in East Baton Rouge Parish 19% of homes (28,633) are in a high-risk flood zone. Of those homes, 57% have NFIP flood insurance.

  • A high-risk zone (Special Flood Hazard Area) has a 1% or greater chance of flooding each year. (44 CFR 59.1)
  • If the home is in that zone and the loan comes from a regulated lender, federal law requires flood insurance for the life of the loan, in communities that take part in the NFIP. (42 U.S.C. 4012a)
  • Most homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage. (FEMA, FloodSmart)

Source: FEMA, As of August 3, 2026

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Owning a home here

Owning a home in East Baton Rouge Parish

The natural hazards FEMA measures in East Baton Rouge Parish, a maintenance plan for your climate and what the trades earn in your area.

Risks to your home

FEMA, National Risk Index 1.20.0 (December 2025)

FEMA rates the natural hazard risk in East Baton Rouge Parish as relatively high.

To rate it, FEMA weighs the expected loss with social vulnerability and community resilience.

In East Baton Rouge Parish, FEMA expects natural hazards to cause $267 million in losses a year, counting buildings, people and crops.

Of all the hazards, FEMA expects inland flooding to do the most damage to buildings: about $99.4 million a year.

Loss FEMA expects each year to homes and buildings, by hazard
  1. Inland floodingRelatively high $99.4 million a year
  2. HurricaneVery high $64.4 million a year
  3. TornadoVery high $12.3 million a year
  4. EarthquakeRelatively low $1.6 million a year
  5. Coastal floodingRelatively low $211,354 a year

What it means for your home

The ratings are FEMA's own. FEMA says its data is meant for planning and does not replace a local study. Drought is not shown: FEMA counts its loss in crops only.

National Risk Index, version 1.20.0 (December 2025), retrieved November 6, 2026

FEMA notice: This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

Climate and upkeep

Department of Energy (PNNL), 2021 IECC zones

East Baton Rouge Parish is climate zone 2A in the home energy code (IECC): hot and humid.

The zone's number says how hot or cold it gets; the letter says how humid: A is moist, B is dry and C is marine.

  • Spring

    • Book the air conditioner's check-up before the heat: ENERGY STAR advises checking the cooling system in the spring, because contractors get busy once summer comes. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Clean and repair the roof gutters. EPA

  • Summer

    • Keep indoor humidity below 60 % (ideally between 30 % and 50 %). A humidity meter is inexpensive and sold at hardware stores. EPA
    • Keep the air conditioner's drip pan clean and its drain line flowing: a plugged drain can cause water damage in the house. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

  • Fall

    • Book the heating check-up in the fall. If it runs on gas or oil, the technician should check the connections: faulty ones are a fire hazard. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Check that the ground slopes away from the house, so water does not collect around the foundation. EPA

  • Winter

    • Look for drafts at windows and doors: close the window on a piece of paper; if it moves back and forth easily, it needs thicker weather stripping. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
    • Seal the air ducts that run through the attic, crawlspace, basement or garage with duct mastic or foil tape, then wrap them in insulation. ENERGY STAR (EPA)

All year

  • Check the air filter every month, especially in heavy-use months. If it looks dirty, change it; change it at least every 3 months. ENERGY STAR (EPA)
  • Test the smoke alarms every month and replace their batteries at least once a year. USFA (FEMA)

Each task comes from the official page beside it. The spring air-conditioning and fall heating check-ups are the timing ENERGY STAR advises; the rest is a suggested order.

Climate zones by county, 2021 IECC

What the trades charge here

BLS, wages for May 2025

TradeTypical hourly wage8 in 10 earn between
Electricians$31.41$23.44 and $39.33
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters$35.69$24.00 and $38.97
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics$30.26$18.50 and $38.50
Roofers$23.70$17.44 and $40.02
Carpenters$26.75$18.34 and $34.44
Painters, construction and maintenance$23.62$17.14 and $28.52
Maintenance and repair workers, general$22.19$13.92 and $37.22

An electrician earns about $31.41 an hour in the Baton Rouge, LA area, and a plumber, about $35.69.

These are workers' hourly wages, not the price of a job.

Need help paying for a repair?

Renting

Renting in East Baton Rouge Parish

The typical rent in East Baton Rouge Parish is $1,147 a month. HUD also publishes a “fair market rent” by unit size: it's the one programs like Section 8 use.

57% of renter households in East Baton Rouge Parish spend 30% or more of their income on housing. 31% spend half or more.

Fair market rent by size

To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $992 $19.08 $39,680
1 bedroom $1,014 $19.50 $40,560
2 bedrooms $1,149 $22.10 $45,960
3 bedrooms $1,456 $28.00 $58,240
4 bedrooms $1,842 $35.42 $73,680

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

Free help in East Baton Rouge Parish

Programs and counseling in East Baton Rouge Parish

There are 4 HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in East Baton Rouge Parish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, with rent, or if you've fallen behind on payments.

Official programs for the down payment and loans for buyers. Check which ones you might qualify for with your income and your county.

The simple kitchen of an apartment, with an electric stove, a refrigerator and wood cabinets.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Louisiana down payment programs

  1. HomeStart Assist

    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

    First-time buyers only. Run by Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC).

    Forgivable Verified November 5, 2026

  2. HomeStart Advantage

    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

    No first-time requirement. Run by Louisiana Housing Corporation (LHC).

    Forgivable Verified November 5, 2026

Which programs do I qualify for? See all Louisiana programs

Help in Spanish in East Baton Rouge Parish

1 of the 4 agencies on this list says it serves 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.

Public housing agencies

They run public housing and Section 8 vouchers (Housing Choice Vouchers) in this parish.

  • Housing Authority of East Baton Rouge Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (225) 923-8100
  • Louisiana Housing Authority Section 8 vouchers (225) 763-8898

Free legal help

If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.

Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Housing counseling nearby

These agencies have an office in East Baton Rouge Parish. The full list is on the Louisiana counselors page. Official HUD list. Confirm hours and fees with the agency before you go.

  • NSC (naca Counseling Subsidiary) - Baton Rouge, LA

    10101 Siegen Ln Bldg 2 Ste B, Baton Rouge · Spanish

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Workshops for new owners
    • and 2 more
    (225) 767-9224

  • Louisiana Housing Corporation

    2415 Quail Dr, Baton Rouge

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (225) 763-8654

  • Mid City Redevelopment Alliance

    419 N 19th St, Baton Rouge

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (225) 346-1000
See every agency in Louisiana

Places

Cities in East Baton Rouge Parish

Each city has its own page with prices, rents and help. These are the largest.

See all 6 cities of East Baton Rouge Parish

Nearby parishes

Each row compares its typical value, typical rent and FHA limit with East Baton Rouge Parish.

Read next

Guides that help here

We picked them by this county's numbers: what weighs most here is what's worth understanding first.

Frequently asked questions

What is the FHA loan limit in East Baton Rouge Parish in 2026?

East Baton Rouge Parish has an FHA limit of $541,287 for a one-unit home. For 2 units it's $693,050, for 3 it's $837,700 and for 4 it's $1,041,125. It's the national floor limit.

What is the conforming loan limit in East Baton Rouge Parish?

East Baton Rouge Parish has a conforming limit of $832,750 for one-unit conventional loans in 2026. A bigger loan is a “jumbo” loan.

How much does a typical home cost in East Baton Rouge Parish?

The typical home value in East Baton Rouge Parish is $248,800 (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). Across Louisiana it's $216,500.

How much does it cost to rent in East Baton Rouge Parish?

East Baton Rouge Parish has a typical rent of $1,147 a month (Average 2020–2024, U.S. Census). HUD's fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $1,149 (Fiscal year 2027).

How much do you need to earn to rent a 2-bedroom apartment in East Baton Rouge Parish?

About $22.10 an hour working full time (2,080 hours a year), or $45,960 a year, so the fair market rent of $1,149 stays under 30% of income.

Sources: American Community Survey (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (Fiscal year 2027); Income Limits (Fiscal year 2026); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (As of August 3, 2026); National Risk Index (2025 data); IECC climate zones by county (2021 data); Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (2025 data); Census Bureau cartographic boundary files (2024 data).