The Town FilesGretna, Louisiana
City in Jefferson Parish · population 17,814 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $257,400
- Household income
- $43,110
- Jan low / Jul high
- 45° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 68
- Median age
- 38.3
Gretna is a city of 17,814 people in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $257,400, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks more walkable than 100% of Louisiana towns, more vibrant than 100% of Louisiana towns, hipper than 99% of Louisiana towns.
How Gretna 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 Gretna is worth $257,400, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 6.0 times the median household income of $43,110, which is more affordable than 3% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $1,060 a month. 48.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gretna | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $257,400 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $1,060 | $887 |
| Median household income | $43,110 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.0× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 48.8% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1966 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Gretna
| People | Gretna | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.3 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.4% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.5% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.9% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 2.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 19.4% | — |
| Work from home | 7.9% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 25.4 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.4% | 84.6% |
Weather in Gretna
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 45.0°F. About 65.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 90 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 7 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
68 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gretna since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 18 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on March 22, 2022 about 3.7 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 110 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 19, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 69 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on April 6, 1964.
Severe weather in Jefferson Parish since 1996
Jefferson Parish has been included in 50 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 Jefferson Parish
Jefferson Parish had 184,764 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $63,803 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Gretna itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Gretna
11 public schools with 5,616 students, about 17.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Young Audiences Charter School (charter) | PK-8 | 1,087 | 17.3 |
| Paul J. Solis Elementary School | PK-5 | 739 | 20.0 |
| Shirley Johnson/Gretna Park Elementary School | PK-5 | 737 | 17.1 |
| Young Audiences Charter High School (charter) | 9-12 | 596 | 18.6 |
| Thomas Jefferson High School for Advanced Studies | 6-12 | 541 | 19.3 |
| George Cox Elementary School | PK-5 | 438 | 18.3 |
| McDonogh 26/Homedale Elementary School | PK-5 | 387 | 15.5 |
| Gretna No. 2 Academy for Advanced Studies | PK-5 | 366 | 18.3 |
| William Hart Elementary School | PK-5 | 357 | 15.5 |
| Ruppel Academie Francaise | PK-6 | 283 | 12.3 |
| Frederick Douglass Community School | 3-8 | 85 | 7.1 |
Towns near Gretna
- Terrytown, LA1.5 mi · 25,278 people · home $220,300
- Harvey, LA1.8 mi · 22,236 people · home $200,100
- Timberlane, LA2.7 mi · 10,364 people · home $221,000
- Marrero, LA4.1 mi · 32,382 people · home $169,800
- Arabi, LA4.4 mi · 4,533 people · home $225,500
- Belle Chasse, LA4.6 mi · 10,579 people · home $410,000
- Woodmere, LA5.2 mi · 11,238 people · home $191,100
- Estelle, LA5.4 mi · 17,952 people · home $217,300
Gretna questions
Is Gretna, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gretna scores better for retirees than 16% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 1%. 16.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.3).
How much does a house cost in Gretna?
The median owner-occupied home in Gretna is valued at $257,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,110, so homes cost about 6.0 times income. Median rent is $1,060 a month.
What is the weather like in Gretna?
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 45.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 65.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Gretna get tornadoes?
68 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gretna 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)