The Town FilesJennings, Louisiana
City in Jefferson Davis Parish · population 9,837 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $136,700
- Household income
- $48,558
- Jan low / Jul high
- 42° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 47
- Median age
- 39.8
Jennings is a city of 9,837 people in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $136,700, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks better for cycling than 91% of Louisiana towns, more walkable than 82% of Louisiana towns, hipper than 81% of Louisiana towns.
How Jennings 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 Jennings is worth $136,700, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $48,558, which is more affordable than 61% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $881 a month. 64.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jennings | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $136,700 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $881 | $887 |
| Median household income | $48,558 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 64.1% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Jennings
| People | Jennings | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 22.5% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 16.0% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 19.1% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 5.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.8% | — |
| Work from home | 2.6% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 31.0 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.2% | 84.6% |
Weather in Jennings
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 41.6°F. About 63.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 73 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 14 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
47 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jennings since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 29, 1974 about 6.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 79 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on April 10, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on May 12, 2024.
Severe weather in Jefferson Davis Parish since 1996
Jefferson Davis Parish has been included in 42 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| January 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3638: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| August 27, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3568: Tropical Storm Ida |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson Davis Parish
Jefferson Davis Parish had 8,020 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,133 a year. Unemployment was 3.8% in 2023; in Jennings itself the ACS puts it at 4%.
Public schools in Jennings
3 public schools with 2,455 students, about 15.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jennings Elementary School | PK-6 | 1,033 | 16.1 |
| Jennings High School | 7-12 | 813 | 13.1 |
| Hathaway High School | PK-12 | 609 | 16.0 |
Towns near Jennings
- Welsh, LA9.2 mi · 3,333 people · home $174,900
- Lake Arthur, LA10.0 mi · 2,595 people · home $83,600
- Crowley, LA16.9 mi · 11,710 people · home $144,900
- Iowa, LA21.2 mi · 3,436 people · home $249,200
- Eunice, LA23.3 mi · 9,422 people · home $122,000
- Rayne, LA23.4 mi · 7,236 people · home $156,500
- Kaplan, LA27.0 mi · 4,352 people · home $156,200
- Church Point, LA29.2 mi · 4,179 people · home $96,700
Jennings questions
Is Jennings, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jennings scores better for retirees than 52% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 31%. 22.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.8).
How much does a house cost in Jennings?
The median owner-occupied home in Jennings is valued at $136,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,558, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $881 a month.
What is the weather like in Jennings?
July highs average 90.2°F and January lows 41.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 63.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Jennings get tornadoes?
47 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jennings since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 29, 1974. 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)