The Town FilesBogalusa, Louisiana
City in Washington Parish · population 10,659 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $97,600
- Household income
- $30,749
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 17
- Median age
- 40.0
Bogalusa is a city of 10,659 people in Washington Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $97,600, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks better for cycling than 77% of Louisiana towns, more walkable than 73% of Louisiana towns.
How Bogalusa ranks
Percentile among Louisiana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Louisiana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Bogalusa is worth $97,600, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $30,749, which is more affordable than 44% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $767 a month. 47.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Bogalusa | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $97,600 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $767 | $887 |
| Median household income | $30,749 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 47.0% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.4% | — |
Who lives in Bogalusa
| People | Bogalusa | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.6% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 12.0% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 39.4% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 4.4% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 74.7% | 84.6% |
Weather in Bogalusa
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 38.7°F. About 63.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.2 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 89 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 28 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bogalusa since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on November 1, 2018 about 2.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on February 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on February 6, 1974.
Severe weather in Washington Parish since 1996
Washington Parish has been included in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3638: Severe Winter Storm |
| September 16, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4817: Hurricane Francine |
| September 10, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3614: Tropical Storm Francine |
| September 13, 2021 | Coastal Storm | EM-3574: Tropical Storm Nicholas |
| August 29, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4611: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Washington Parish
Washington Parish had 11,134 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,079 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Bogalusa itself the ACS puts it at 15.7%.
Public schools in Bogalusa
4 public schools with 1,810 students, about 11.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bogalusa High School | 7-12 | 698 | 11.3 |
| Northshore Charter School (charter) | K-9 | 467 | 16.7 |
| Byrd Avenue Primary School | PK-2 | 345 | 15.0 |
| Central Elementary School | 3-6 | 300 | 7.5 |
Towns near Bogalusa
- Franklinton, LA17.6 mi · 3,662 people · home $188,500
- Poplarville, MS20.2 mi · 2,833 people · home $168,100
- Picayune, MS20.3 mi · 11,885 people · home $157,100
- Nicholson, MS22.1 mi · 2,833 people · home $97,400
- Abita Springs, LA22.9 mi · 2,631 people · home $269,300
- Covington, LA25.2 mi · 11,564 people · home $295,100
- Pearl River, LA28.7 mi · 2,565 people · home $235,200
Bogalusa questions
Is Bogalusa, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Bogalusa scores better for retirees than 42% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 36%. 19.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in Bogalusa?
The median owner-occupied home in Bogalusa is valued at $97,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $30,749, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $767 a month.
What is the weather like in Bogalusa?
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 38.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 63.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.2 inches of snow.
Does Bogalusa get tornadoes?
17 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Bogalusa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on November 1, 2018. The typical Louisiana town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)