At $1,675/mo, rent takes about 39% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,675 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Ponchatoula changed +0.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 36 Louisiana cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.9%.
30% of the median household income ($51,161) is $1,279 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,220); a 3-bedroom is $1,510.
Hammond, 12 miles away, rents for 24% less ($1,279/mo), about $4,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Ponchatoula. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Ponchatoula, LA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 23.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Ponchatoula, LA has changed in 5 years
On the earnings side, the typical household in Ponchatoula, LA now reports about $51,161, up from $36,706 in 2021. Census counts show Ponchatoula, LA adding about 79 residents over the five-year window, up 1.0% on net. The renter share has risen from 22.1% to 24%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 17.9% to 23.9% across the same window.
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Can you afford rent in Ponchatoula on your salary?
At $1,675/mo, how Ponchatoula rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Ponchatoula rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Ponchatoula. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Ponchatoula
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Ponchatoula is $1,675/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $940/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,220/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $940/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,510/mo.
At 39% of local median household income ($51,161/yr), Ponchatoula ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Ponchatoula?
How does Ponchatoula rent compare to other cities in Louisiana?
At $1,675/mo, rent takes ~39% of Ponchatoula's median household income ($51,161/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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