What your paycheck buys · Updated every Friday

What a paycheck buys in Louisiana this week

Out of reach · #20 of 50 on affordability · rate for the week of October 22, 2026

A median Louisiana household earning $60,670 a year can afford a home of about $192,000 at this week’s 7.32% average 30-year rate. The median Louisiana listing is $270,000, which would take 39.5% of that household’s gross income, against the usual 28% ceiling.

$192,000

Affordable home price

+$1,262 vs. last week · −$18,067 vs. a year ago

$270,000

Median list price (September 2026)

−$5,500 vs. a year earlier

Affordability index (100 = within reach)

U.S. 66 · Louisiana 76 a year ago

39.5%

Share of income the median listing takes

$1,995/mo incl. taxes & insurance · U.S. 42.5%

$61,000

Median household income (2025)

U.S. $87,000

#20

Rank of 50 (1 = most affordable)

See the full ranking

Compared with a year ago

A year ago, with the 30-year rate at 6.19%, a median list price of $275,500 and median income of $60,320 (2024 figure), the same household could afford about $210,000 and the median listing took 36.8% of income. Affordability in Louisiana has worsened since then.

Nearby in the ranking

#18 South Carolina: can afford $260,000, median listing $360,000
#19 Wisconsin: can afford $278,000, median listing $390,000
#21 South Dakota: can afford $260,000, median listing $375,000
#22 Virginia: can afford $316,000, median listing $456,000

Run your own numbers →

How this is calculated: 28% of gross monthly income for housing, 10% down, a 30-year fixed loan at Freddie Mac’s weekly average, and 1.45% of the price a year for taxes and insurance. Full method, caveats, and sources on the main index page. An educational gauge, not a mortgage quote.