St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.3 | 275,583 people · 53rd most distressed in Louisiana
American Default Research

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St. Tammany Parish, LA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.3 — 997th 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 53rd of 64 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. St. Tammany Parish's primary driver is Legal Distress at 75.7 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 75.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 76
Housing Cost Burden 75.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 87
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 84
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 79
Homeownership Rate 25
Consumer Credit Distress 60.1
Debt in Collections 57
Medical Debt 59
Auto Loan Delinquency 72
Credit Card Delinquency 62
Uninsured Rate 43
Subprime Credit Population 59
Economic Vitality 50.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 66
Rent-to-Income Ratio 43
Business Formation Rate 11
House Price Change (YoY) 72
Structural Poverty 27.8
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 37
Income vs. State Median 5
Child Poverty Rate 33
Disability Rate 60
Transfer Income Dependency 13

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. St. Tammany Parish
St. Tammany Parish, LA 59.3 Elevated —
St. Bernard Parish, LA 80.3 Crisis +21.0
Orleans Parish, LA 78.2 Serious +18.9
Tangipahoa Parish, LA 77.8 Serious +18.5
Washington Parish, LA 75.0 Serious +15.7
Jefferson Parish, LA 70.9 Serious +11.6
Pearl River County, MS 65.6 Serious +6.3
Hancock County, MS 55.5 Elevated -3.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. St. Tammany Parish
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, CT 59.4 Elevated +0.1
Berks County, PA 59.4 Elevated +0.1
Washoe County, NV 59.5 Elevated +0.2
Union County, NJ 58.9 Elevated -0.4
Bernalillo County, NM 58.8 Elevated -0.5

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for St. Tammany Parish as a CSV file.

Find Help in St. Tammany Parish

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near St. Tammany Parish.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY ST. TAMMANY WEST
Mandeville
985-888-1214 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPost-Purchase

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 St. Tammany 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 St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana?

    St. Tammany Parish has a County Distress Index score of 59.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 997th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 53rd in Louisiana out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in St. Tammany Parish?

    The primary driver of distress in St. Tammany Parish is Legal Distress, where the county scores 75.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does St. Tammany Parish compare to neighboring counties?

    St. Tammany Parish (59.3) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: St. Bernard Parish, LA (80.3); Orleans Parish, LA (78.2); Tangipahoa Parish, LA (77.8).

  • 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). St. Tammany Parish's score of 59.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power St. Tammany Parish's CDI score?

    St. Tammany 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 St. Tammany Parish?

    St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana has a population of approximately 275,583 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.