The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 70538 sells for about $100,000, or $85 per square foot.
Prices are down 37.45% from a year ago, which gives buyers more room to negotiate. Homes take about 78 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $950 a month.
ZIP 70538 — Franklin
The 70538 housing market is experiencing a significant correction, with median home prices declining sharply year-over-year. High inventory levels relative to sales volume and a slower market pace suggest a cooling environment for sellers. These conditions are likely driven by regional economic shifts and the high cost of property insurance in coastal Louisiana.
This ZIP is best suited for local workers and retirees seeking affordable housing in a rural, coastal-adjacent setting with a slower pace of life.
Median prices moved down 37.5% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 78 days on market with 6.2 months of supply — a balanced-paced market.
12% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 94.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 7.8% · poverty 21.5% — a mixed stability profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical -1.5%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 2.3%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net outflow — more people moved out than in
ZCTA 70538, St. Mary Parish, LA
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
The area is located in a coastal region of southern Louisiana, presenting significant exposure to hurricane-related wind and flood risks.
Economic momentum is largely tied to regional agriculture, oil and gas services, and local government employment in St. Mary Parish.
Property taxes are assessed by St. Mary Parish based on local millage rates; exemptions include the Louisiana Homestead Exemption for primary residences.
Commuting is primarily car-dependent, with residents traveling via US-90 toward regional employment hubs in Morgan City or Lafayette.
The area offers proximity to the Atchafalaya Basin and Cypremort Point State Park, providing access to fishing, boating, and outdoor recreation.
The rental market is characterized by modest demand and limited new multi-family construction, with a high share of single-family rentals.
The economy is anchored by the oil and gas industry, agricultural production, and public sector services within St. Mary Parish.
Transportation is dominated by private vehicle use along the US-90 corridor, with limited public transit infrastructure available.
Development is primarily focused on small-scale residential infill and maintenance of existing industrial infrastructure.
The St. Mary Parish Assessor is responsible for the valuation of all real property within the parish, following state-mandated assessment cycles.
Parcels are subject to St. Mary Parish school and hospital district taxes, alongside standard municipal utility assessments.
Property insurance premiums are high and availability is constrained due to the area's high-risk classification for hurricane and flood damage.
Data retrieved from US Census Bureau ZCTA-level tables.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
- Burns Point Park4.611.6 mi
- Kemper Williams Park4.412.2 mi
- Wedell-Williams Aviation and Cypress Sawmill Museum4.812 mi
- Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge - Garden City Unit4.31.8 mi
- Burns Point Park4.611.6 mi
- Kemper Williams Park4.412.2 mi
- Bayou Teche National Wildlife Refuge - Garden City Unit4.31.8 mi
- Atchafalaya Golf Course4.211.2 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
Provides beach access and fishing on the Gulf of Mexico.
Features preserved antebellum architecture and local shops.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.