Cost to Own
United States › Louisiana › St. James Parish › Paulina Population 1,939 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 $834 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full St. James Parish picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Paulina, Louisiana

A $278,000 home here costs

$2,349

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 $100,500 a year.

P&I 65%Tax 5%Insurance 11%Utilities 9%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,516. The real number is $834 higher every month, 55% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

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

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Paulina from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,939 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. James Parish figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Paulina median: $278,400
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, $222,400 borrowed $1,516
Property tax0.555% effective rate for Paulina itself $129
Homeowners insuranceLouisiana averages $2,259/yr (NAIC), or 1.083% of home value $251
Electricity12.87¢/kWh, Louisiana residential average, EIA $155
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $232
Total monthly $2,349

Paulina against St. James Parish and Louisiana

MeasurePaulinaSt. James Parish
Median home value$278,400$197,800
Median property tax$1,544$1,043
Effective tax rate0.555%0.527%
Median gross rent—$821
Population1,93919,797

The weather behind that power bill

Paulina sits in St. James Parish, which averages a high of 91.6°F in its hottest month and a low of 42.9°F in its coldest, with 67.21" of precipitation a year and 32% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 2,870 cooling and 1,342 heating degree days, which is what sets the $155 electricity line above.

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

Other cities in St. James Parish

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

Talk to someone who works this market

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

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

Common questions

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

A $278,000 home in Paulina, Louisiana costs approximately $2,349 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,516 principal and interest, $129 property tax, $251 homeowners insurance, $223 utilities and $232 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Paulina?

Paulina has an effective property tax rate of 0.555%, based on a median home value of $278,400 and median real estate taxes of $1,544. That is higher than the St. James Parish average of 0.527%.

What is the average home price in Paulina?

The median owner-occupied home value in Paulina, Louisiana is $278,400, against $197,800 across St. James Parish.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Paulina?

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

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

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Paulina, Louisiana at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $100,500 a year. That covers the full $2,349 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

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