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Cost of Living & Affordability: DeRidder, LA

Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for DeRidder, LA

Cap Rate
4.43%
Median Price
$190K
Rent/Mo
$980
1% Rule
0.52%
Fails

Housing Affordability

DeRidder's price-to-income ratio is 4.2x — homes cost 4.2 times the local median household income of $45,760. This is moderately affordable. A healthy portion of the workforce can still aspire to homeownership, but many find renting more practical — creating a solid tenant base of working professionals.

Rent vs Buy Analysis

A typical mortgage payment on a median-priced home in DeRidder (20% down at 7%) is approximately $1,264/mo for principal and interest alone — add taxes and insurance and the all-in payment reaches roughly $1,413. The median rent of $980/mo is significantly less than buying — this rent-vs-buy gap is one of the strongest indicators of sustainable rental demand. When renting is cheaper than buying, the renter pool stays deep and vacancy stays low.

Income & Employment

The median household income in DeRidder is $45,760, with a population of 50,000 growing at 0.3% per year. DeRidder is a smaller market. Research the local employment base carefully — smaller cities can be significantly impacted by a single employer's decisions.

What This Means for Investors

DeRidder is affordable with moderate returns. Focus on volume — the low entry point lets you scale to multiple properties faster than in more expensive markets.

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How DeRidder Compares

DeRidder vs Louisiana state average and national average across key investment metrics. DeRidder beats the national average but trails the Louisiana average on cap rate.

Metric
DeRidder
Louisiana Avg
National Avg
Cap Rate
4.43%
5.85%
3.81%
Median Price
$190K
$190K
$333K
Median Rent
$980
$1,203
$1,524
Property Tax
0.54%
0.54%
1.08%
Vacancy
6.7%
6.7%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
0.3%/yr
0.3%/yr
0.9%/yr

Nearby South Markets

City
Cap Rate
Price
Rent
Tax
DeRidder, LA
4.4%
$190K
$980
0.54%
Mobile, AL
6.2%
$190K
$1,270
0.44%
Macon, GA
5.3%
$190K
$1,210
0.96%
Dothan, AL
5.8%
$190K
$1,190
0.4%
McAllen, TX
4.0%
$190K
$1,100
1.72%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DeRidder affordable for renters?
Renters in DeRidder spend approximately 26% of median household income on rent. This is within the standard 30% affordability threshold, suggesting renters have room in their budgets. The median household income is $45,760, below the level needed for comfortable renting.
What is the price-to-income ratio in DeRidder?
DeRidder's price-to-income ratio is 4.2x, meaning homes cost 4.2 times the local median income. This is moderate — some residents can buy, many choose to rent.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in DeRidder?
A mortgage payment (20% down, 7% rate) on the median $190K home is approximately $1,011/mo before taxes and insurance. Adding those costs brings it to roughly $1,160/mo. The median rent of $980/mo is less than the cost of buying — this gap supports continued rental demand.
How does DeRidder's cost of living compare to the national average?
Home prices in DeRidder ($190K) are 43% below the national average. Rents ($980/mo) are 36% below average. Property taxes (0.54%) are below the 1.08% national average.
Full DeRidder Analysis →Cap Rate CalculatorBRRRR Calculator

Explore DeRidder & Related Markets

More DeRidder Guides

Rental Property Investment GuideRent AnalysisProperty Tax GuideAppreciation & Growth ForecastNeighborhood Investment Guide

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