Ascension Parish, Louisiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.7 | 131,632 people · 62nd most distressed in Louisiana
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Ascension Parish, LA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.7 — 1470th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where residents carry heavy debt burdens with elevated delinquency and collections rates. Within Louisiana, it ranks 62nd of 64 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Ascension Parish's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 66.6 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 66.6
Debt in Collections 61
Medical Debt 57
Auto Loan Delinquency 79
Credit Card Delinquency 69
Uninsured Rate 36
Subprime Credit Population 77
Legal Distress 64.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 64
Housing Cost Burden 53.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 63
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 66
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 43
Homeownership Rate 8
Structural Poverty 16.8
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 26
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 23
Disability Rate 19
Transfer Income Dependency 11
Economic Vitality 12.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 9
Rent-to-Income Ratio 7
Business Formation Rate 15
House Price Change (YoY) 50

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Ascension Parish
Ascension Parish, LA 51.7 Elevated —
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA 72.6 Serious +20.9
St. John the Baptist Parish, LA 69.8 Serious +18.1
Assumption Parish, LA 67.5 Serious +15.8
Livingston Parish, LA 61.3 Elevated +9.6
Iberville Parish, LA 58.9 Elevated +7.2
St. James Parish, LA 56.2 Elevated +4.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Ascension Parish
Lenawee County, MI 51.8 Elevated +0.1
Seneca County, OH 51.6 Elevated -0.1
Jefferson County, NY 51.6 Elevated -0.1
Chautauqua County, NY 51.6 Elevated -0.1
Woodbury County, IA 51.5 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Ascension Parish as a CSV file.

Find Help in Ascension Parish

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Ascension Parish.

INTEGRITY HOMEBUYER ASSOCIATION, INCORPORATED
Gonzales
225-644-6705 Website
Pre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in Louisiana →

Find an Attorney

Louisiana State Bar Association Lawyer Referral offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Louisiana State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 1-800-421-5722

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Ascension Parish residents at no cost.

Southeast Louisiana Legal Services 504-529-1000
Acadiana Legal Service Corporation 1-800-256-1175
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corporation (504) 529-1000

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Louisiana →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Ascension Parish, Louisiana?

    Ascension Parish has a County Distress Index score of 51.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,470th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 62nd in Louisiana out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Ascension Parish?

    The primary driver of distress in Ascension Parish is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 66.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Ascension Parish compare to neighboring counties?

    Ascension Parish (51.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: East Baton Rouge Parish, LA (72.6); St. John the Baptist Parish, LA (69.8); Assumption Parish, LA (67.5).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Elevated zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Ascension Parish's score of 51.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power Ascension Parish's CDI score?

    Ascension Parish's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Ascension Parish?

    Ascension Parish, Louisiana has a population of approximately 131,632 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.