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The region's low cost of doing business makes it a favorable location for both new and existing business and industry. The real estate market has shown consistently strong growth, while at the same time remaining quite affordable. Taxes are low in the I-12 Corridor, thanks to Louisiana's tax policies and efforts to keep living costs down. Louisiana has the seventh lowest local, state, and federal tax burden in the United States. Furthermore, energy rates are at or below the national average (currently at 9.92 for Commercial and 6.61 for Industrial c/kWh as of 2007), which is testament to the economic viability of region considering the misfortunes of 2005, and regional proximity to three large metropolitans. This research was last compiled and updated in January of 2008.  Download this in Excel.
| | Utilities | 2005 Avg Price (c/kWh) | | | Utilities (electric) | Commercial | | Industrial | | | | Cleco | 9.52 | | 7.25 | | | | Demco | 7.77 | | 6.08 | | | | Entergy | 9.69 | | 6.76 | | | | Washington-St. Tammany Electric Coop | 6.54 | | 5.92 | | | | Housing | 2006 Median Price | Growth '05-'06 | | | Livingston | $144,519 | | 18.7% | | | | St. Tammany | $238,330 | | 11.9% | | | | Tangipahoa | $171,515 | | 18.9% | | | | Washington | $120,896 | | 31.6% | | | | Taxes | Sales Tax | Property Tax (millage) | | | State | 4% | | na | | | | Local | (excl. state) | | (per $1,000) | | | | Livingston | 4%-6% | | 131.2 | | | | St. Helena | 4%-5% | | 114.0 | | | | St. Tammany | 4.75%-5.25% | | 169.2 | | | | Tangipahoa | 3%-5.5% | | 80.4 | | | | Washington | 3.5%-5.163% | | 121.0 | | | |
