The Town FilesChalmette, Louisiana
Community in St. Bernard Parish · population 21,562 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $214,700
- Household income
- $54,904
- Jan low / Jul high
- 44° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 49
- Median age
- 35.2
Chalmette is a community of 21,562 people in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $214,700, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks more vibrant than 97% of Louisiana towns, more walkable than 96% of Louisiana towns, better for cycling than 96% of Louisiana towns.
How Chalmette 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 Chalmette is worth $214,700, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $54,904, which is more affordable than 21% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $1,110 a month. 61.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chalmette | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $214,700 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $1,110 | $887 |
| Median household income | $54,904 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 61.2% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Chalmette
| People | Chalmette | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.2 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.6% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.6% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.9% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 4.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.4% | — |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 29.3 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.8% | 84.6% |
Weather in Chalmette
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 43.5°F. About 70.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 119 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 6 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
49 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chalmette since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 16 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 22, 2022 about 2.3 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 95 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 19, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 51 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on February 24, 2013.
Severe weather in St. Bernard Parish since 1996
St. Bernard Parish has been included in 48 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| 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 27, 2023 | Other | EM-3600: Seawater Intrusion |
| September 13, 2021 | Coastal Storm | EM-3574: Tropical Storm Nicholas |
Jobs and pay in St. Bernard Parish
St. Bernard Parish had 11,254 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,869 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Chalmette itself the ACS puts it at 9%.
Public schools in Chalmette
6 public schools with 4,928 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chalmette High School | 9-12 | 2,317 | 14.2 |
| Lacoste Elementary School | PK-5 | 711 | 17.3 |
| Arlene Meraux Elementary School | PK-5 | 624 | 16.0 |
| Andrew Jackson Middle School | 6-8 | 607 | 13.8 |
| Chalmette Elementary School | PK-5 | 485 | 12.1 |
| C.F. Rowley Alternative School | 6-12 | 184 | 11.5 |
Towns near Chalmette
- Arabi, LA1.9 mi · 4,533 people · home $225,500
- Meraux, LA3.0 mi · 6,804 people · home $208,700
- Terrytown, LA4.7 mi · 25,278 people · home $220,300
- Violet, LA5.5 mi · 5,758 people · home $173,500
- Gretna, LA5.6 mi · 17,814 people · home $257,400
- Timberlane, LA6.0 mi · 10,364 people · home $221,000
- Belle Chasse, LA6.3 mi · 10,579 people · home $410,000
- Harvey, LA7.1 mi · 22,236 people · home $200,100
Chalmette questions
Is Chalmette, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chalmette scores better for retirees than 1% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 1%. 12.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.2).
How much does a house cost in Chalmette?
The median owner-occupied home in Chalmette is valued at $214,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,904, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,110 a month.
What is the weather like in Chalmette?
July highs average 91.6°F and January lows 43.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 70.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Chalmette get tornadoes?
49 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chalmette since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on March 22, 2022. 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)