The Town FilesNatchitoches, Louisiana
City in Natchitoches Parish · population 18,039 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $193,200
- Household income
- $37,133
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 95°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 26.5
Natchitoches is a city of 18,039 people in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $193,200, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks better for young professionals than 96% of Louisiana towns, hipper than 95% of Louisiana towns, better for cycling than 94% of Louisiana towns.
How Natchitoches 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 Natchitoches is worth $193,200, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 5.2 times the median household income of $37,133, which is more affordable than 4% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $802 a month. 41.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Natchitoches | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $193,200 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $802 | $887 |
| Median household income | $37,133 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.2× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 41.6% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.5% | — |
Who lives in Natchitoches
| People | Natchitoches | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 26.5 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.7% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.3% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 35.9% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 2.9% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 16.2 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.1% | 84.6% |
Weather in Natchitoches
July highs average 95.3°F and January lows 39.2°F. About 55.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 98 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 29 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Natchitoches since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 9 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on May 19, 1983 about 3.4 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 49 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 8, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 52 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 1, 1983.
Severe weather in Natchitoches Parish since 1996
Natchitoches Parish has been included in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, other.
| 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 Natchitoches Parish
Natchitoches Parish had 14,311 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,001 a year. Unemployment was 4.1% in 2023; in Natchitoches itself the ACS puts it at 7.1%.
Public schools in Natchitoches
9 public schools with 4,027 students, about 12.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natchitoches Central High School | 9-12 | 1,211 | 13.8 |
| L.P. Vaughn Elementary & Middle School | PK-2 | 731 | 14.1 |
| East Natchitoches Elementary & Middle School | 5-6 | 412 | 13.3 |
| M.R. Weaver Elementary School | 3-4 | 378 | 11.1 |
| Natchitoches Jr. High School | 7-8 | 374 | 11.0 |
| N.S.U. Elementary Lab School | PK-5 | 300 | 17.6 |
| Louisiana School for Math Science & the Arts | 10-12 | 268 | 7.4 |
| Natchitoches Parish Technical and Career Center | 4-12 | 180 | 13.8 |
| N.S.U. Middle Lab School | 6-8 | 173 | 15.7 |
Towns near Natchitoches
- Many, LA25.0 mi · 2,571 people · home $116,600
- Winnfield, LA29.9 mi · 4,153 people · home $80,500
Natchitoches questions
Is Natchitoches, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Natchitoches scores better for retirees than 15% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 4%. 13.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 26.5).
How much does a house cost in Natchitoches?
The median owner-occupied home in Natchitoches is valued at $193,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $37,133, so homes cost about 5.2 times income. Median rent is $802 a month.
What is the weather like in Natchitoches?
July highs average 95.3°F and January lows 39.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Natchitoches get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Natchitoches since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on May 19, 1983. 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)