Cost to Own
United StatesLouisianaSt. James ParishSouth Vacherie Population 3,048 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in South Vacherie, Louisiana

A $197,000 home here costs

$1,637

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,013. The real number is $624 higher every month — 62% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

South Vacherie median: $196,700
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US 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, $157,600 borrowed $1,013
Property tax0.529% effective rate for South Vacherie itself $87
Homeowners insuranceLouisiana averages $2,259/yr (NAIC), or 1.083% of home value $178
Electricity14.15¢/kWh — Louisiana residential average, EIA $127
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $164
Total monthly $1,637

South Vacherie against St. James Parish and Louisiana

MeasureSouth VacherieSt. James Parish
Median home value$196,700$197,800
Median property tax$1,041$1,043
Effective tax rate0.529%0.527%
Median gross rent$1,092$821
Population3,04819,797

The weather behind that power bill

South Vacherie 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 $127 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

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in South Vacherie?

A $197,000 home in South Vacherie, Louisiana costs approximately $1,637 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,013 principal and interest, $87 property tax, $178 homeowners insurance, $195 utilities and $164 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in South Vacherie?

South Vacherie has an effective property tax rate of 0.529%, based on a median home value of $196,700 and median real estate taxes of $1,041. That is in line with the St. James Parish average of 0.527%.

What is the average home price in South Vacherie?

The median owner-occupied home value in South Vacherie, Louisiana is $196,700, against $197,800 across St. James Parish.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in South Vacherie?

Median gross rent in South Vacherie is $1,092 a month, against $1,637 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for South Vacherie — 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