City profile · Louisiana · Census ACS 2023

Start, LA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Start - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

941
Residents
$67,673
Median income
$134,600
Median home
$944
Median rent (state)

Start - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Start places in the 47th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

47th
percentile, household income
22nd
percentile, home value
10th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Start, LA

Start is a small town in Louisiana, home to 941 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. The typical household in Start brings in $67,673 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.9%. Typical homes in Start are valued around $134,600, and the median resident age is 50.1 years. About 28.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 48.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 1 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in Louisiana run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Louisiana at 88.2 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $944 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Louisiana run around $212, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 36.7 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

941 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Louisiana

Median Household Income

$67,673 /yr

Poverty 9.9%

Cost of Living Index (state)

88.2 (US=100)

Well Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Louisiana average

How does Start compare to other US cities?

Here's how Start stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 47% higher than other cities
Home value 22% pricier than other cities
Median rent 10% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Start against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Louisiana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Louisiana-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher places Start toward the top of Louisiana's cities

Among the 477 Louisiana cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Start ranks #78 - the 84th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Start only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#110 of 426
74th percentile in Louisiana
Median Gross Rent
#261 of 477
45th percentile in Louisiana
Median Home Value
#223 of 419
47th percentile in Louisiana
Poverty Rate
#304 of 475
36th percentile in Louisiana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#78 of 477
84th percentile in Louisiana

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Louisiana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

47thIncome percentile

47th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Start's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$134,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 78% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Start $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Start, LA Start, LA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Start, LA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Start, LA median $67,673/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Start, LA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Start, LA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 28.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 48.4%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
941
Median Income
$67,673
Median Home Value
$134,600
Median Age
50.1
Poverty Rate
9.9%
Labor force participation
48.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
28.2%

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
80.4%
Carpool
3.8%
Public Transit
8.9%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
6.9%

Based on 393 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Louisiana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$130
avg/month
Natural Gas
$40
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$42
avg/month
Total Utilities
$212
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Louisiana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Louisiana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Start sits in

Cost of Living Index
88.2
Well Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$944/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
36.7 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Louisiana

Oil City
941 people
Grand Coteau
948 people
Merryville
956 people
Dubach
917 people
Egan
966 people
Albany
969 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Start's 941 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Odin, IL
941 people
Union Bridge, MD
941 people
Jonestown, MS
941 people
Northwood, ND
941 people
Eureka, UT
941 people
Whitecone, AZ
942 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Start's $67,673 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Bartonville, IL
$67,674 median income
Mattydale, NY
$67,672 median income
Maggie Valley, NC
$67,674 median income
Marysville, PA
$67,670 median income
Aspermont, TX
$67,670 median income
Guthrie Center, IA
$67,679 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Start, LA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Start, LA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 87.3% 7.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.6% White 87.3% Black or African American 7.2% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 5.4% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Start compares to nearby Louisiana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Start (this city) 941 $67,673
Oil City 941 $17,381
Grand Coteau 948 $48,036
Merryville 956 $26,554
Census ACS 5-year FIPS LA NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Start, LA?

What is the population of Start, LA? +

Start, LA has a population of 941 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Start, LA? +

Median annual household income in Start runs $67,673, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Start? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Start; the closest available measure is the Louisiana state average, a cost of living index of 88.2 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Louisiana vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Start, LA? +

Start's median home value sits at $134,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.