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New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

Central, LA Housing Affordability Index

Central, Louisiana has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 117.6 (More Affordable Than Average) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 270th most affordable of 331 scored Louisiana cities, compared with 125.1 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $288,700 home with 20% down, the Louisiana average 30-year fixed rate of 7.19% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $1,566, or 21% of the city’s $89,554 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Central is updated every night from live Louisiana mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

Central MBR-HAI 117.6 More Affordable Than Average
Rank in Louisiana 270 of 331 1 = most affordable
Louisiana 125.1 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.19% Louisiana lenders
Median home value $288,700 U.S. Census Bureau

Central is 7.6 points below the Louisiana score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the Louisiana index

View Central Mortgage Rates

What It Takes to Buy in Central

$1,566/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.19%
$67,100
Income Needed
To keep the payment at 28% of income
$89,554
Median Household Income
Louisiana: $60,756
3.2x
Price-to-Income Ratio
Louisiana: 3.6x
$1,376/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$2,154/yr
Median Property Tax
0.75% of median value
30.4%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
53.9%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Central, Louisiana. The rate is the Louisiana average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the Central Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Central, Louisiana score: 117.6 (More Affordable Than Average), ranked 270 of 331 Louisiana cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/louisiana/central”