Cost to Own
United States › Louisiana › St. James Parish › South Vacherie Population 3,048 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 $652 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 South Vacherie, Louisiana

A $197,000 home here costs

$1,726

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 $74,000 a year.

P&I 62%Tax 5%Insurance 10%Utilities 13%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,074. The real number is $652 higher every month, 61% 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 South Vacherie from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,048 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.

South Vacherie median: $196,700
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, $157,600 borrowed $1,074
Property tax0.529% effective rate for South Vacherie itself $87
Homeowners insuranceLouisiana averages $2,259/yr (NAIC), or 1.083% of home value $178
Electricity12.87ยข/kWh, Louisiana residential average, EIA $155
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $164
Total monthly $1,726

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 $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 South Vacherie 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 South Vacherie every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

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

Common questions

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

A $197,000 home in South Vacherie, Louisiana costs approximately $1,726 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,074 principal and interest, $87 property tax, $178 homeowners insurance, $223 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 $1,726 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in South Vacherie?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in South Vacherie, Louisiana at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $74,000 a year. That covers the full $1,726 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

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