Cost to Own
United States › Louisiana › St. Landry Parish › Lawtell Population 1,044 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $281 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full St. Landry Parish picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Lawtell, Louisiana

A $24,000 home here costs

$412

per 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 $17,500 a year.

P&I 32%Tax 4%Insurance 5%Utilities 54%Upkeep 5%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $131. The real number is $281 higher every month, 215% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare St. Landry Parish with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Lawtell from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,044 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 St. Landry Parish figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Lawtell median: $24,300
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
LA average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $19,200 borrowed $131
Property tax0.819% effective rate for Lawtell itself $16
Homeowners insuranceLouisiana averages $2,259/yr (NAIC), or 1.083% of home value $22
Electricity12.87¢/kWh, Louisiana residential average, EIA $155
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $20
Total monthly $412

Lawtell against St. Landry Parish and Louisiana

MeasureLawtellSt. Landry Parish
Median home value$24,300$142,900
Median property tax$199$425
Effective tax rate0.819%0.297%
Median gross rent—$742
Population1,04482,128

The weather behind that power bill

Lawtell sits in St. Landry Parish, which averages a high of 92.0°F in its hottest month and a low of 41.4°F in its coldest, with 61.63" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,698 cooling and 1,467 heating degree days, which is what sets the $155 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for St. Landry Parish , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in St. Landry Parish

Full St. Landry Parish cost breakdown · Every county in Louisiana

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Lawtell 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 Lawtell every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Lawtell I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Lawtell?

A $24,000 home in Lawtell, Louisiana costs approximately $412 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $131 principal and interest, $16 property tax, $22 homeowners insurance, $223 utilities and $20 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Lawtell?

Lawtell has an effective property tax rate of 0.819%, based on a median home value of $24,300 and median real estate taxes of $199. That is higher than the St. Landry Parish average of 0.297%.

What is the average home price in Lawtell?

The median owner-occupied home value in Lawtell, Louisiana is $24,300, against $142,900 across St. Landry Parish.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lawtell?

Rent data is not published for Lawtell at this level of detail.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Lawtell?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Lawtell, Louisiana at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $17,500 a year. That covers the full $412 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Lawtell, 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.

Full methodology