Ouachita Parish, Louisiana

County Distress Index: Serious · 77.5 | 157,568 people · 13th most distressed in Louisiana
American Default Research

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Ouachita Parish, LA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 77.5 — 115th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Louisiana, it ranks 13th of 64 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Ouachita Parish's primary driver is Legal Distress at 98.8 — worse than roughly 99% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 98.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 99
Housing Cost Burden 89.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 97
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 99
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 24
Homeownership Rate 93
Consumer Credit Distress 78.7
Debt in Collections 80
Medical Debt 59
Auto Loan Delinquency 86
Credit Card Delinquency 84
Uninsured Rate 50
Subprime Credit Population 89
Structural Poverty 63.4
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 90
Income vs. State Median 51
Child Poverty Rate 90
Disability Rate 38
Transfer Income Dependency 61
Economic Vitality 46.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 47
Rent-to-Income Ratio 69
Business Formation Rate 14
House Price Change (YoY) 45

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Ouachita Parish
Ouachita Parish, LA 77.5 Serious —
Morehouse Parish, LA 82.1 Crisis +4.6
Caldwell Parish, LA 73.3 Serious -4.2
Richland Parish, LA 73.0 Serious -4.6
Lincoln Parish, LA 71.7 Serious -5.8
Jackson Parish, LA 61.6 Elevated -15.9
Union Parish, LA 61.4 Elevated -16.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Ouachita Parish
Darlington County, SC 77.4 Serious -0.1
Norfolk city, VA 77.3 Serious -0.3
Tangipahoa Parish, LA 77.8 Serious +0.3
Christian County, KY 77.9 Serious +0.4
Hampton city, VA 77.1 Serious -0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Ouachita Parish

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Ouachita Parish.

MOUNT PLEASANT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORP. INC
MONROE
318-323-3632 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab

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 Ouachita 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 →

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Ouachita Parish has a County Distress Index score of 77.5 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 115th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 13th in Louisiana out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Ouachita Parish?

    The primary driver of distress in Ouachita Parish is Legal Distress, where the county scores 98.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Ouachita Parish compare to neighboring counties?

    Ouachita Parish (77.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Morehouse Parish, LA (82.1); Caldwell Parish, LA (73.3); Richland Parish, LA (73.0).

  • 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 Serious 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). Ouachita Parish's score of 77.5 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Ouachita 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 Ouachita Parish?

    Ouachita Parish, Louisiana has a population of approximately 157,568 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.