Luling is a city in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, with a population of 13,614. It is a vibrant community that attracts residents with its affordable cost of living, and unique history.
If you’re considering moving to Luling, it’s important to understand the cost of living and how it compares to the rest of the state and country. Here, we’ll take a look at the cost of essential needs in Luling, such as housing, food, child care, healthcare and taxes. This will help you make an informed decision on whether or not Luling is right for you and your family.
Housing
The cost of housing is a significant factor in determining the cost of living. In Luling, the median home value is $202,200, which is lower than the national median home value of $204,900.
Renting can also be an affordable option for housing. In Luling, 15% of occupied homes are rented, far lower than the national renter rate of 36.2%. The average rental price in Luling is $1,172 per month, which is higher than the national median monthly rent of $1,023.
Besides home value, the income level in an area is also a crucial determinant of housing affordability. The national median household income is $60,293, and the price of a typical home in the US is 3.4 times that amount. Housing affordability ratios can vary widely from approximately 1.0 in the least expensive cities to more than 10.0 in the most expensive markets.
In Luling, the median household income is $81,375, which is 2.5 times the median home value.
Luling offers an affordable housing market, with great neighborhoods to choose from. If you’re looking to purchase property, an experienced Luling Realtor can help you find the perfect home.
Transportation
Transportation is another critical factor affecting the cost of living. In Luling, the majority of commuters, or 93.90%, drive to work, a higher percentage than the national average of 85.5%.
As a suburb of New Orleans, an estimated 78.90% of workers commute to jobs located outside of Luling. This is a far larger percentage than the national average of 43.7% of commuters who work in a different city from where they live.
The average commute time in Luling is about 27 minutes, which is almost identical to the national average.
Taking into consideration the cost of gas, public transit, and car maintenance, it is estimated that a single person in Luling spends $10,478 annually on transportation, which is just above the national average.
Healthcare
In Luling, out-of-pocket healthcare costs and insurance premiums are higher than the national average. However, they are consistent with the costs across the state of Louisiana.
For a single adult residing in Luling, the average healthcare costs amount to $4,825 annually. This makes it slightly more than the average of $4,707 across Louisiana and relatively high compared to the national average of $4,266. These figures assume that the individual has at least a basic level of health insurance coverage.
Childcare
For families with children, child care expenses can add up significantly to the overall annual spending. In Luling, the average annual cost of childcare for two children is $9,929. This is approximately $800 more than the average of $9,099 across the state of Louisiana.
In comparison, child care expenses for two children across the entire United States average at $15,853 per year. So while childcare costs are only slightly in comparison to the average across the state, they are significantly lower than the national average.
Food
Another expense that can have a major impact on the overall cost of living is food. The cost of food can vary significantly across different cities and towns.
In Luling, the average cost of food per year for a single adult is $3,437, while a family of four spends an average of $9,927. By comparison, the average annual food expenditure for a single adult in Louisiana is $3,119, and $3,240 in the U.S. A family of four spends $9,006 in Louisiana and $9,354 in the U.S.
Taxes
The average annual tax burden for working adults in Luling, Louisiana, including state and federal income taxes, Social Security contributions, and Medicare payroll taxes, is $6,394, which is relatively high compared to the statewide average of $5,772.
However, it’s important to note that these calculations exclude other common taxes like property, sales, and excise taxes. When factoring in these taxes, but excluding federal taxes, Luling residents benefit from living in a state with a relatively low average tax burden.