Rapides Parish, Louisiana: commercial real estate data.
Rapides Parish, Louisiana had an estimated 125,899 residents on July 1, 2024, down 3.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 130,016, across 1,318 square miles. County output reached $7.41 bn in 2024, 3,172 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 48 7(a) approvals worth $36.2 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Rapides Parish
How many people live in Rapides Parish
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024127,527
- Households48,954
- Average household size2.61
- Median household income$54,967
- Median age37.9
- Median gross rent$950 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$181,100
- Home value to household income3.3 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income20.7 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher23.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree8.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over85,151
- Population under 1831,881
- Share under 1825.0 percent
- Population 65 and over21,686
- Share 65 and over17.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6473,960
- Civilian labor force57,505
- Unemployment rate5.1 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over60.1 percent
- Rank by population among Louisiana parishes13th of 64
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included513th of 3,222
Rapides Parish is the 13th largest of 64 Louisiana parishes by population. A median home costs 3.3 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 25.0 percent against 17.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Rapides Parish
Is Rapides Parish's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 2024125,899
- Census 2020 base population130,016
- Population change since the 2020 census base-3.17 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-554
- Births, 20241,543
- Deaths, 20241,638
- Natural change, 2024-95
- Net domestic migration, 2024-962
- Net international migration, 2024503
- Total net migration, 2024-459
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-3,980
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents2765th of 3,144
The county has lost 3.17 percent of its population since the 2020 census base. The population fell in 2024 from both sources: deaths exceeded births and more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Rapides Parish
Where are people moving to Rapides Parish from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,965
- People arriving, from those returns3,813
- Tax returns filed by households leaving2,507
- Net household movement-542
- Adjusted gross income arriving$94.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$-28.9 m
- Average income of an arriving household$48,182
- Average income of a leaving household$49,280
- Largest single originGrant Parish (259 households)
- Largest single destinationGrant Parish (262 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant Parish | 259 | 582 | $9.8 m |
| Avoyelles Parish | 171 | 374 | $7.4 m |
| East Baton Rouge Parish | 79 | 125 | $2.5 m |
| Natchitoches Parish | 73 | 137 | $2.8 m |
| Harris County | 71 | 134 | $2.3 m |
| Lafayette Parish | 65 | 105 | $2.4 m |
| Vernon Parish | 46 | 94 | $1.6 m |
| Ouachita Parish | 44 | 86 | $2.3 m |
Households arriving report $1,098 less average income than households leaving, which drains spending power even where headcount holds up. The largest single source of arrivals is Grant 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.
Rapides Parish
What is the Rapides Parish economy?
- County GDP, 2024$7.41 bn
- County GDP, 2023$7.23 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.6 percent
- GDP change over five years23.9 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Louisiana areas BEA publishes12th of 64
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes562nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$58,140
Output grew 2.6 percent in the latest year and 23.9 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.
Rapides Parish
Employment by industry in Rapides Parish
- Covered employment, annual average56,422
- Establishments reporting4,093
- Average annual pay$51,777
- Average weekly wage$996
- Health care and social assistance, employment12,102
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$50,674
- Retail trade, employment7,022
- Retail trade, average annual pay$34,501
- Accommodation and food services, employment5,087
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,358
- Manufacturing, employment3,643
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$74,660
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment3,160
- Construction, employment2,991
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 12,102 | 672 | $50,674 |
| Retail trade | 7,022 | 596 | $34,501 |
| Accommodation and food services | 5,087 | 322 | $20,358 |
| Manufacturing | 3,643 | 90 | $74,660 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 3,160 | 274 | $43,071 |
| Construction | 2,991 | 306 | $70,315 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 1,787 | 391 | $69,322 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,515 | 162 | $67,000 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 12,102 jobs, 21.4 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Rapides Parish
How many businesses are in Rapides Parish?
- Establishments, all industries3,172
- Employment at those establishments46,374
- Annual payroll$2.31 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents24.9
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.
Rapides Parish
Building permits in Rapides Parish
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024237
- Declared construction value permitted$56.9 m
- Single family units authorized215
- Multifamily units authorized22
- Multifamily share of units9.3 percent
- Average declared value per unit$240,096
- Units authorized per 1,000 households4.8
Single-family homes are 90.7 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Rapides Parish
SBA loans in Rapides Parish (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded48
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$36.2 m
- Average 7(a) approval$753,771
- Median 7(a) approval$250,000
- 10th percentile approval$50,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,082,900
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)872
- Jobs per approval18.2
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active20
- Distinct industries receiving approvals35
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer14.6 percent
- Loans on real estate terms7
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter34
- Franchise loans7
- Franchise share of approvals14.6 percent
- Leading industry by approval countFull-Service Restaurants (4)
- Most active lenderRed River Bank (15)
- 504 approvals recorded4
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.5 m
- Average 504 approval$372,250
- Median 504 approval$359,500
- Distinct CDCs active3
- 504 jobs per approval19.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved51.0
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$37.7 m
The average approval of $753,771 sits well above the median of $250,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 14.6 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.
Rapides Parish
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Rapides Parish
Do SBA loans in Rapides Parish get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded13
- Paid in full11
- Charged off2
- Status: Cancelled3
- Status: Paid in full11
- Status: Exempt from disclosure31
- Status: Charged off2
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 13 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.
Rapides Parish
SBA lending by place in Rapides Parish
- Borrower cities with recorded lending6
- Alexandria, approvals30
- Pineville, approvals13
- Deville, approvals2
- Woodworth, approvals1
- Boyce, approvals1
- Lafayette, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | 30 | $19,637,700 |
| Pineville | 13 | $10,463,300 |
| Deville | 2 | $500,000 |
| Woodworth | 1 | $3,000,000 |
| Boyce | 1 | $2,330,000 |
| Lafayette | 1 | $250,000 |
Alexandria accounts for 30 approvals against 13 in Pineville. 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.
Rapides Parish
How large is Rapides Parish?
- Land area1,318 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Louisiana parishes2nd of 64
- Width, east to west53 mi
- Height, north to south43.3 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land97
- Establishments per square mile2.41
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.
Rapides Parish
Flood risk in Rapides Parish
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Rapides Parish, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 220145
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book11
- Of those, participating in the NFIP11
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Rapides 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 Rapides Parish (community 220145), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Rapides 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. 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 Rapides 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 Rapides Parish site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-2024127,527
- Households48,954
- Average household size2.61
- Median household income$54,967
- Median age37.9
Common questions
Rapides Parish questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Rapides Parish, Louisiana?
The Census Bureau estimates 125,899 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 127,527, in 48,954 households, ranking 13th of 64 Louisiana counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Rapides Parish's population growing?
The population has fallen 3.17 percent since the 2020 census base of 130,016, to 125,899 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 1,543 births against 1,638 deaths, with net migration of -459. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Rapides Parish?
$54,967. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $181,100, which is 3.3 times income, and median gross rent is $950 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Rapides Parish?
3,172 establishments, employing 46,374 people with an annual payroll of $2.31 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 Rapides Parish?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 12,102 jobs, 21.4 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 56,422 jobs at an average annual pay of $51,777, or $996 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Rapides Parish?
48 7(a) approvals totaling $36.2 m since FY2020, across 20 lenders, with a median approval of $250,000, plus 4 504 approvals worth $1.5 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Rapides Parish?
237 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $56.9 m. Multifamily was 9.3 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Rapides 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 Rapides Parish come from?
The largest single origin is Grant Parish, with 259 households. Arriving households report an average income of $48,182 against $49,280 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Rapides 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 Rapides 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.
Rapides Parish
Cities and places in Rapides.
12 Census places lie wholly or partly in Rapides Parish. All 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | city | 44,060 | 30 | Wholly in this county |
| Pineville | city | 14,160 | 13 | Wholly in this county |
| Ball | town | 3,869 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Woodworth | town | 2,432 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Deville | CDP | 1,572 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Glenmora | town | 1,284 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Boyce | town | 1,037 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Forest Hill | village | 727 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Lecompte | town | 592 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cheneyville | town | 559 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Echo | CDP | 552 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| McNary | village | 248 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
A further 1 of the county's 48 SBA 7(a) approvals are to borrowers in cities that match no Census place in Rapides Parish, the largest being Lafayette (1). 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.