Ascension Parish, Louisiana: commercial real estate data.
Ascension Parish, Louisiana had an estimated 133,534 residents on July 1, 2024, up 5.6 percent since the 2020 census base of 126,499, across 290 square miles. County output reached $12.65 bn in 2024, 2,626 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 125 7(a) approvals worth $62.0 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Ascension Parish
How many people live in Ascension Parish
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024130,314
- Households47,656
- Average household size2.73
- Median household income$91,549
- Median age36.6
- Median gross rent$1,318 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$279,600
- Home value to household income3.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.3 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher29.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree10.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over85,426
- Population under 1834,379
- Share under 1826.4 percent
- Population 65 and over16,833
- Share 65 and over12.9 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6479,102
- Civilian labor force68,032
- Unemployment rate4.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over70.9 percent
- Rank by population among Louisiana parishes11th of 64
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included502nd of 3,222
Ascension Parish is the 11th largest of 64 Louisiana parishes by population. A median home costs 3.1 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 26.4 percent against 12.9 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Ascension Parish
Is Ascension Parish's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024133,534
- Census 2020 base population126,499
- Population change since the 2020 census base5.56 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 20241,580
- Births, 20241,602
- Deaths, 20241,002
- Natural change, 2024600
- Net domestic migration, 2024407
- Net international migration, 2024577
- Total net migration, 2024984
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,800
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents466th of 3,144
The county has grown 5.56 percent since the 2020 census base. The population grew in 2024 from both sources: births exceeded deaths and more people moved in than left.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Ascension Parish
Where are people moving to Ascension Parish from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving3,446
- People arriving, from those returns6,854
- Tax returns filed by households leaving3,073
- Net household movement373
- Adjusted gross income arriving$221.6 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-21.5 m
- Average income of an arriving household$64,298
- Average income of a leaving household$79,110
- Largest single originEast Baton Rouge Parish (1,079 households)
- Largest single destinationEast Baton Rouge Parish (848 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Baton Rouge Parish | 1,079 | 2,084 | $67.9 m |
| Livingston Parish | 274 | 533 | $15.5 m |
| St. John the Baptist Parish | 164 | 350 | $9.4 m |
| St. James Parish | 154 | 338 | $8.0 m |
| Jefferson Parish | 140 | 286 | $8.0 m |
| Assumption Parish | 91 | 191 | $4.7 m |
| Iberville Parish | 77 | 169 | $3.1 m |
| Tangipahoa Parish | 69 | 126 | $4.0 m |
Households arriving report $14,812 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is East Baton Rouge Parish, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Ascension Parish
What is the Ascension Parish economy?
- County GDP, 2024$12.65 bn
- County GDP, 2023$11.87 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20246.6 percent
- GDP change over five years51.6 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Louisiana areas BEA publishes9th of 64
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes367th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$97,107
Output grew 6.6 percent in the latest year and 51.6 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Ascension Parish
Employment by industry in Ascension Parish
- Covered employment, annual average50,590
- Establishments reporting3,919
- Average annual pay$71,805
- Average weekly wage$1,381
- Construction, employment9,756
- Construction, average annual pay$85,091
- Manufacturing, employment7,629
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$135,685
- Retail trade, employment6,146
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,778
- Accommodation and food services, employment4,616
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$21,325
- Health care and social assistance, employment3,153
- Wholesale trade, employment2,242
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 9,756 | 405 | $85,091 |
| Manufacturing | 7,629 | 175 | $135,685 |
| Retail trade | 6,146 | 482 | $34,778 |
| Accommodation and food services | 4,616 | 328 | $21,325 |
| Health care and social assistance | 3,153 | 393 | $41,813 |
| Wholesale trade | 2,242 | 261 | $89,573 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 2,165 | 462 | $92,306 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 2,113 | 267 | $54,080 |
Construction is the largest private sector at 9,756 jobs, 19.3 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Ascension Parish
How many businesses are in Ascension Parish?
- Establishments, all industries2,626
- Employment at those establishments45,262
- Annual payroll$3.20 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents20.2
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Ascension Parish
Building permits in Ascension Parish
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024531
- Declared construction value permitted$120.9 m
- Single family units authorized531
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$227,718
- Units authorized per 1,000 households11.1
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Ascension Parish
SBA loans in Ascension Parish (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded125
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$62.0 m
- Average 7(a) approval$496,107
- Median 7(a) approval$263,700
- 10th percentile approval$50,000
- 90th percentile approval$1,090,840
- Largest single approval$4,300,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)1,652
- Jobs per approval13.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active35
- Distinct industries receiving approvals63
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer13.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms17
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter97
- Franchise loans22
- Franchise share of approvals17.6 percent
- Leading industry by approval countAll Other Specialty Trade Contractors (9)
- Most active lenderb1BANK (19)
- 504 approvals recorded3
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.9 m
- Average 504 approval$628,000
- Median 504 approval$507,000
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval14.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved22.8
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$63.9 m
The average approval of $496,107 sits well above the median of $263,700, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 13.6 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Ascension Parish
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Ascension Parish
Do SBA loans in Ascension Parish get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded21
- Paid in full16
- Charged off5
- Status: Paid in full16
- Status: Exempt from disclosure81
- Status: Charged off5
- Status: Cancelled19
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed4
Only 21 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Ascension Parish
SBA lending by place in Ascension Parish
- Borrower cities with recorded lending7
- Gonzales, approvals62
- Prairieville, approvals34
- Saint Amant, approvals9
- Geismar, approvals9
- Donaldsonville, approvals7
- Sorrento, approvals2
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Gonzales | 62 | $42,092,600 |
| Prairieville | 34 | $10,540,300 |
| Saint Amant | 9 | $4,785,000 |
| Geismar | 9 | $2,540,400 |
| Donaldsonville | 7 | $1,660,100 |
| Sorrento | 2 | $288,000 |
| Denham Springs | 2 | $107,000 |
Gonzales accounts for 62 approvals against 34 in Prairieville. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Ascension Parish
How large is Ascension Parish?
- Land area290 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Louisiana parishes58th of 64
- Width, east to west28.3 mi
- Height, north to south19.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land449
- Establishments per square mile9.06
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Ascension Parish
Flood risk in Ascension Parish
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Ascension Parish, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 220013
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 7
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 7
- Communities carrying a CRS class3
- Radon levels in Ascension Parish, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/LZone 3
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Ascension Parish (community 220013), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 7, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Ascension Parish in radon zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 7, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 100.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Ascension Parish site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Ascension Parish site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024130,314
- Households47,656
- Average household size2.73
- Median household income$91,549
- Median age36.6
Common questions
Ascension Parish questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Ascension Parish, Louisiana?
The Census Bureau estimates 133,534 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 130,314, in 47,656 households, ranking 11th of 64 Louisiana counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Ascension Parish's population growing?
The population has grown 5.56 percent since the 2020 census base of 126,499, to 133,534 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,602 births against 1,002 deaths, with net migration of 984. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Ascension Parish?
$91,549. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $279,600, which is 3.1 times income, and median gross rent is $1,318 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Ascension Parish?
2,626 establishments, employing 45,262 people with an annual payroll of $3.20 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Ascension Parish?
Construction is the largest private sector at 9,756 jobs, 19.3 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 50,590 jobs at an average annual pay of $71,805, or $1,381 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Ascension Parish?
125 7(a) approvals totaling $62.0 m since FY2020, across 35 lenders, with a median approval of $263,700, plus 3 504 approvals worth $1.9 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Ascension Parish?
531 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $120.9 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Ascension Parish?
Zone 3, a predicted average indoor radon screening level less than 2 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Ascension Parish come from?
The largest single origin is East Baton Rouge Parish, with 1,079 households. Arriving households report an average income of $64,298 against $79,110 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Ascension Parish on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Ascension Parish?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Ascension Parish
Cities and places in Ascension.
6 Census places lie wholly or partly in Ascension Parish. All 6 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairieville | CDP | 35,238 | 34 | Wholly in this county |
| Gonzales | city | 13,108 | 62 | Wholly in this county |
| Donaldsonville | city | 6,831 | 7 | Wholly in this county |
| Sorrento | town | 2,203 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Lemannville | CDP | 841 | None recorded | 59.3 percent here, 40.7 percent St. James Parish |
| Darrow | CDP | 183 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 20 of the county's 125 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Ascension Parish, the largest being Saint Amant (9), Geismar (9), Denham Springs (2). Those are postal cities, unincorporated areas and cities outside the county, so no place row claims them; they are counted in the county total above.