CALCMONEY // HOME AFFORDABILITY // LA // BATON ROUGE
How much house can you afford in Baton Rouge? Based on local median home prices, current LA mortgage rates, and Baton Rouge property tax data.
$225,000
$1,375/mo
$58,940/yr
$212,048
Monthly housing costs of $1,375 represent 29.5% of Baton Rouge's median gross monthly income ($4,667/mo). At 29.5%, this slightly exceeds the 28% rule. Buyers need above-median income or a 25%+ down payment to qualify comfortably.
| Median Home Price | $225,000 |
| Down Payment (20%) | $45,000 |
| Loan Amount | $180,000 |
| Monthly PI Payment | $1,192 |
| Monthly Property Tax | $90 |
| Monthly Insurance Est. | $94 |
| Total Monthly PITI | $1,375 |
| Housing Cost % of Income | 29.5% |
| Required Income (28% rule) | $58,940/yr |
| Max Affordable Home | $212,048 |
$7,875
$1,775/mo
Baton Rouge Home Affordability Quick Reference 2026
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $225,000 | Baton Rouge city median |
| Down Payment (20%) | $45,000 | Conventional loan |
| Monthly PITI | $1,375 | 6.95% rate, 30yr fixed |
| Required Income (28% rule) | $58,940 | Annual gross |
| Max Affordable Home | $212,048 | Based on median income |
| FHA Down (3.5%) | $7,875 | Minimum FHA |
| Housing Cost % of Income | 29.5% | Median income: $56,000/yr |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.48% | $1,080/yr on median home |
Monthly PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowners insurance. Estimates only.
The median home price in Baton Rouge is $225,000, with a local 30-year mortgage rate of 6.95%. A buyer putting 20% down carries a loan of $180,000, generating a monthly P&I payment of $1,192. Adding property taxes ($90/mo) and homeowners insurance ($94/mo) brings total monthly PITI to $1,375.
Baton Rouge's property tax rate of 0.48% is among the lower rates in the country, which improves overall affordability by keeping total PITI closer to the principal and interest payment alone. On the Baton Rouge median home, that is $90/month, or $1,080 per year.
Louisiana levies a state income tax, which affects take-home pay and effective buying power. High-income earners in Baton Rouge should factor state tax liability into their overall housing budget — mortgage interest may be deductible on both federal and state returns.
Using the 28% rule, a household earning Baton Rouge's median income of $56,000/year can afford up to $1,307/month in total housing costs. Based on Baton Rouge's mortgage rate of 6.95% and property tax rate of 0.48%, that translates to a maximum affordable home price of approximately $212,048 with 20% down on a 30-year loan.
To afford the median Baton Rouge home priced at $225,000, you need an annual gross income of approximately $58,940. Total monthly housing costs (principal and interest of $1,192, property taxes of $90, and insurance of $94) come to $1,375/month, which equals 28% of the required income.
At the median home price of $225,000 and median household income of $56,000, the total monthly housing cost of $1,375 represents 29.5% of gross monthly income. This slightly exceeds the standard 28% rule. Buyers will need above-median income or a larger down payment to stay within guidelines.
A conventional 20% down payment on the median Baton Rouge home of $225,000 is $45,000. An FHA loan requires just 3.5% down — $7,875 — but adds mortgage insurance of roughly $154/month, bringing total FHA payments to $1,775/month.
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