What is the largest city in Rapides Parish, LA?

Alexandria is the largest city or town in Rapides Parish, with about 44,060 residents.

How many ZIP codes are in Rapides Parish?

Rapides Parish includes 17 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 71301, 71302, 71303, 71328, 71330.

What is the population of Rapides Parish, LA?

About 127,527 people live in Rapides Parish, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.

What counties border Rapides Parish?

Rapides Parish borders Vernon Parish, Avoyelles Parish, Natchitoches Parish, Evangeline Parish, Allen Parish, Grant Parish, LaSalle Parish.

Rapides Parish, LA: Cities, ZIP Codes & Local Data

Population

127,527

Land area

1,324sq mi

People per sq mi

96

ZIP codes

17

Rapides Parish at a glance

The median household income is $54,967, 10% below the Louisiana median of $60,756.
A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $181,100 (16% below Louisiana) and median rent is $950 a month.
Its largest cities are Alexandria (44,060), Pineville (14,160) and Ball (3,869).

Local data for Rapides Parish, LA

Counts from official public data

Housing and community stats

Rapides Parish, LA, American Community Survey 2020-2024

Full profile

Median household income

$54,967

Poverty rate

19.9%

Median home value

$181,100

Prices +1.4% in a year

Median rent

$950/mo

Homeownership

64.8%

Bachelor's or higher

23.1%

Median age

37.9

Average commute

22.2 min

Largest reported origins and ancestries: French Americans (7,411), Irish Americans (6,625), German Americans (5,657).

Home values and rents Income, education and commute

Economy and federal money

Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans

Details

Unemployment rate

3.6%

Sep 2026, -0.4 pts in a year

Average annual pay

$53,620

56,850 jobs, 2025

Income per person

$58,789

BEA, 2024

Federal spending

$950M

FY 2026, $7,307 per person

PPP loans

$217M

3,800 loans, 29,266 jobs reported

Campaign donations

$631K

Itemized, 2026 cycle

Economy Federal spending PPP loans

How people get to work

Rapides Parish, LA, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates

Drove alone80.4%
Carpooled6.5%
Public transit1.4%
Walked2.3%
Bicycle0.3%
Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other3.6%
Worked from home5.5%

Average one-way commute: 22.2 minutes for people who do not work from home.

Environment and hazard risk

Rapides Parish, LA, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA

Full report

Natural hazard risk

Relatively Moderate

Top: lightning

Storm events since 1996

524

Most often thunderstorm wind

Flood insurance policies

2,688

5.1% of homes, county

July high / Jan low

92° / 39°F

57.5 inches of rain a year

Hazards, floods and storm history Check a flood zone 67 historic places

Health statistics

Share of adults in Rapides Parish, LA, CDC PLACES estimates

All 40 measures

Obesity

40.7%

U.S. 33.3% +7.4 pts

Diabetes

15.6%

U.S. 12.1% +3.5 pts

Smoking

18.7%

U.S. 12.8% +5.9 pts

Uninsured (18-64)

8.7%

U.S. 11.1% -2.4 pts

Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Rapides Parish

Population shown

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Frequently asked questions

What is the largest city in Rapides Parish, LA?: Alexandria is the largest city or town in Rapides Parish, with about 44,060 residents.
How many ZIP codes are in Rapides Parish?: Rapides Parish includes 17 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 71301, 71302, 71303, 71328, 71330.
What is the population of Rapides Parish, LA?: About 127,527 people live in Rapides Parish, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
What counties border Rapides Parish?: Rapides Parish borders Vernon Parish, Avoyelles Parish, Natchitoches Parish, Evangeline Parish, Allen Parish, Grant Parish, LaSalle Parish.