Fort Polk South, LA
The cost of living in Fort Polk South, LA is 4% below the national average (Cost Index: 96). Homes here are typically valued around N/A, compared to the $303,400 national median. The median household income is $62,790 — overall, living costs and earnings are reasonably balanced in this area.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI
Cost of Living Breakdown
Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.
Fort Polk South Mortgage Calculator
Pre-filled with the local median home value of $400,000 and Louisiana's property tax rate of 0.55%.
Salary & Purchasing Power
Median household income is $62,790 — 20% below the national average.
What $62,790 in Fort Polk South Gets You Elsewhere
Property Tax in Fort Polk South, LA
Income Tax Drag (Personal Projection)
At a gross income of $74,580, the localized Louisiana marginal tax brackets exact an effective state penalty of 4.2%. This results in an absolute "tax drag" drain of $3,131/year compared to states with no income tax.
Louisiana Macro Tax Overview
Compare Fort Polk South to Another City
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Cost of Living Comparison
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)
FAQ: Living in Fort Polk South
What is the cost of living like in Fort Polk South, LA?+
Living costs in Fort Polk South land close to the national average, with a Cost Index of 96 (where 100 = the US baseline). Housing is the largest variable: the median home value here is N/A, and typical monthly rents run around $1,175. Groceries and utilities are slightly below what you would find in most US cities.
What salary do you need to live comfortably in Fort Polk South?+
A good rule of thumb: if you would need $75,000 in an average US city, you would need roughly $72,000 in Fort Polk South for the same standard of living. The local median household income is $62,790, which means many families may feel stretched by local costs.
How much are taxes in Fort Polk South, LA?+
Louisiana has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 4.25%. The effective property tax rate is 0.55%. The statewide average property tax rate is 0.55%. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 9.55% on everyday purchases.
How much does it cost to rent in Fort Polk South, LA?+
The typical monthly rent in Fort Polk South is around $1,175. That's roughly 13% lower than the $1,348 national median.
Are groceries and utilities expensive in Fort Polk South?+
Grocery prices in Fort Polk South are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.
What is Fort Polk South, LA like to live in?+
Fort Polk South is a small town with a population of about 8,056. The median age of residents is 22.9, skewing younger — often a sign of a college town or fast-growing area. The local poverty rate is 17.99%, above the national average of 12.4%.
- Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
- Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
- Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
- Taxation & Payroll: Dynamic zero-latency evaluation utilizing the latest progressive 2024 IRS Federal marginal brackets, structural FICA limits, and specific 50-state local tax tables.
- Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)