Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Empire, Louisiana
A $85,000 home here costs
$866per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $37,000 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $463. The real number is $403 higher every month, 87% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Plaquemines Parish with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Empire from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,218 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Plaquemines Parish figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Empire against Plaquemines Parish and Louisiana
| Measure | Empire | Plaquemines Parish |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $84,700 | $275,800 |
| Median property tax | — | $1,275 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.462% | 0.462% |
| Median gross rent | — | $1,611 |
| Population | 1,218 | 23,070 |
The weather behind that power bill
Empire sits in Plaquemines Parish, which averages a high of 88.8°F in its hottest month and a low of 47.5°F in its coldest, with 53.88" of precipitation a year and 34% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 3,048 cooling and 1,072 heating degree days, which is what sets the $155 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Plaquemines Parish , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Plaquemines Parish
Full Plaquemines Parish cost breakdown · Every county in Louisiana
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Empire averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Empire every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Empire I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Empire?
A $85,000 home in Empire, Louisiana costs approximately $866 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $463 principal and interest, $33 property tax, $77 homeowners insurance, $223 utilities and $71 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Empire?
Place-level tax data is not published for Empire, so the Plaquemines Parish rate of 0.462% applies here.
What is the average home price in Empire?
The median owner-occupied home value in Empire, Louisiana is $84,700, against $275,800 across Plaquemines Parish.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Empire?
Rent data is not published for Empire at this level of detail.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Empire?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Empire, Louisiana at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $37,000 a year. That covers the full $866 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Empire, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Louisiana.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.