County FMR · HUD FY2026

Ascension Parish Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Ascension Parish, LA - 11% above the US average.

$1,064
1-bedroom FMR
$1,204
2-bedroom FMR
-1.6%
YoY change
+11%
vs US avg

The verdict

Ascension is the 17th most expensive of 64 counties in Louisiana by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #975 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#975
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#17
most expensive of 64 in Louisiana (2BR)
+28%
vs the state average
$42,560
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (12.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (55.2%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Ascension Parish, LA. Verify with HUD →

Ascension Parish, Louisiana carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,064 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,204/mo and a studio is $1,032/mo. That's 11% above the national benchmark of $959 and 28% above the Louisiana average of $832.

Rent decreased1.6% from FY 2025 ($1,081), declining against the trend. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $42,560/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 40.8% of the 8,018 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Louisiana. Population: 126,973. Population grew 6.1% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than Louisiana's statewide growth of -0.9% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area ASCENSION·PARISH·LA·LA

Ascension Parish, LA: $1,064/mo 1BR · #975 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA LA
  • 1BR-FMR $1,064
  • 2BR-FMR $1,204
  • RANK-MID #975
  • YOY-FLAT -1.6%
  • VSUS-ABOVE +11%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +28% LA
  • INC-ROOM 14%
  • POP-MID 127K
  • PHOTO-FINISH East Baton Rouge P
  • VOUCH-90-110 $958–$1,170
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: East Baton Rouge ($0 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $763 · US avg: $893
$1,032/mo
↓ 2.9% YoY +35% vs state +16% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $832 · US avg: $959
$1,064/mo
↓ 1.6% YoY +28% vs state +11% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,007 · US avg: $1,175
$1,204/mo
↓ 1.5% YoY +20% vs state +2% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,298 · US avg: $1,525
$1,511/mo
↓ 1.1% YoY +16% vs state -1% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,508 · US avg: $1,756
$1,943/mo
↓ 4.0% YoY +29% vs state +11% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,063
$1,032
$-31 (-2.9%)
1 Bedroom $1,081
$1,064
$-17 (-1.6%)
2 Bedroom $1,222
$1,204
$-18 (-1.5%)
3 Bedroom $1,528
$1,511
$-17 (-1.1%)
4 Bedroom $2,023
$1,943
$-80 (-4.0%)

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Ascension Parish. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
13.4%
Affordable
Need $41,280/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
13.8%
Affordable
Need $42,560/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
15.7%
Affordable
Need $48,160/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
19.7%
Affordable
Need $60,440/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
25.3%
Affordable
Need $77,720/yr for 30% rule
How we calculate this

Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.

0%100%National avg22%15.7%
Ascension Parish 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $92,266 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Louisiana rent burden →

Where Ascension sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,204 Top 31% higher than 69% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). This entry sits in this band. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026

How Ascension compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Louisiana counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Ascension is highlighted. Nearby Louisiana counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: St. Tammany Parish ($1,130), Jefferson Parish ($1,113), Orleans Parish ($1,113), Ascension Parish (this county) ($1,064), East Baton Rouge Parish ($1,064), Caddo Parish ($982), Lafayette Parish ($898).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,064/mo compares to Louisiana salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).

Occupation LA Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $102,290 12.5% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $102,060 12.5% Affordable
Registered Nurses $78,880 16.2% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $69,540 18.4% Affordable
Electricians $59,590 21.4% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $52,280 24.4% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $50,580 25.2% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $48,770 26.2% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $47,580 26.8% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $38,700 33% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $35,890 35.6% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $28,820 44.3% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $27,940 45.7% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $27,040 47.2% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $23,110 55.2% Unaffordable
Salaries: BLS OES (Louisiana) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Ascension Parish. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Ascension (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 39.1% overall, from $765 to $1,064. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 28.3% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$700$800$900$1,000$1,100$1,200 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,064
Ascension Parish 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓1.6% $1,032 $1,064 $1,204
FY 2025 ↓3.8% $1,063 $1,081 $1,222
FY 2024 ↑28.3% $1,107 $1,124 $1,277
FY 2023 ↑12.2% $859 $876 $1,005
FY 2022 ↓8.8% $744 $781 $917
FY 2021 ↑11.9% $794 $856 $1,013
FY 2020 $678 $765 $894
Total change (6yr): +39.1%
Annualized: +5.7%/yr
1 BR: $765 → $1,064

Part of the Baton Rouge, LA Metro Area

Ascension Parish is a central county of the Baton Rouge, LA metropolitan statistical area, alongside 9 other metro-area counties.

Ascension Parish ranks #8 of 10 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: East Baton Rouge Parish ($1,064), Livingston Parish ($1,064), West Baton Rouge Parish ($1,064), Pointe Coupee Parish ($1,064), East Feliciana Parish ($1,064), West Feliciana Parish ($1,064), St. Helena Parish ($1,064), Ascension Parish (this county) ($1,064), Assumption Parish ($806), Iberville Parish ($790).

East Baton Rouge Parish
1 BR: $1,064/mo
Livingston Parish
1 BR: $1,064/mo
West Baton Rouge Parish
1 BR: $1,064/mo
Pointe Coupee Parish
1 BR: $1,064/mo
East Feliciana Parish
1 BR: $1,064/mo
West Feliciana Parish
1 BR: $1,064/mo
St. Helena Parish
1 BR: $1,064/mo
Ascension Parish (this county)
1 BR: $1,064/mo
Assumption Parish
1 BR: $806/mo
Iberville Parish
1 BR: $790/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Ascension Parish, both outside Louisiana so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside LA (FY2026).

Georgetown County
SC · 2 BR $1,204/mo
Buffalo County
SD · 2 BR $1,204/mo
Sangamon County
IL · 2 BR $1,203/mo
Wise County
TX · 2 BR $1,205/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside LA).

Pembina County
ND · 15.7% of income · 2 BR $873/mo
Coffey County
KS · 15.7% of income · 2 BR $879/mo
Pepin County
WI · 15.7% of income · 2 BR $973/mo
Murray County
MN · 15.7% of income · 2 BR $973/mo

Nearby Counties in Louisiana

Largest counties by population in Louisiana

Showing the 8 largest of 63 other counties in Louisiana.

East Baton Rouge Parish
1 BR: $1,064/mo Pop: 454,369
Jefferson Parish
1 BR: $1,113/mo Pop: 436,171
Orleans Parish
1 BR: $1,113/mo Pop: 380,408
St. Tammany Parish
1 BR: $1,130/mo Pop: 266,168
Lafayette Parish
1 BR: $898/mo Pop: 243,175
Caddo Parish
1 BR: $982/mo Pop: 236,259
Calcasieu Parish
1 BR: $928/mo Pop: 210,770
Ouachita Parish
1 BR: $793/mo Pop: 159,585
View all counties in Louisiana →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Ascension Parish? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Ascension Parish is $1,064 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,204 and a studio is $1,032.
How does Ascension Parish rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Ascension Parish is 11% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,064 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Ascension Parish rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Ascension Parish's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,204 ranks #975 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Ascension Parish? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $42,560 ($3,547/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Ascension Parish.
Is rent going up or down in Ascension Parish? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Ascension Parish decreased by 1.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,081 to $1,064.
Which jobs can afford rent in Ascension Parish? ▼
Based on Louisiana BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,064/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Ascension Parish over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Ascension Parish went from $765 in FY 2020 to $1,064 in FY 2026, a total change of +39.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Ascension Parish? ▼
In Ascension Parish, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,064/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Ascension Parish? ▼
For Ascension Parish, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,064/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.