The Town FilesOakdale, Louisiana
City in Allen Parish · population 6,692 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $98,700
- Household income
- $42,540
- Jan low / Jul high
- 38° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 40.1
Oakdale is a city of 6,692 people in Allen Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $98,700, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks better for retirees than 72% of Louisiana towns, more walkable than 72% of Louisiana towns.
How Oakdale 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 Oakdale is worth $98,700, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 2.3 times the median household income of $42,540, which is more affordable than 81% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $873 a month. 67.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Oakdale | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $98,700 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $873 | $887 |
| Median household income | $42,540 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.3× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 67.2% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Oakdale
| People | Oakdale | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.9% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7.5% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.8% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 13.9% | — |
| Work from home | 13.6% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 22.1 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.4% | 84.6% |
Weather in Oakdale
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 38.1°F. About 62.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 88 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 31 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oakdale since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 31, 2018 about 1.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 17, 2020.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 26, 2009.
Severe weather in Allen Parish since 1996
Allen Parish has been included in 40 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 Allen Parish
Allen Parish had 7,378 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,734 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Oakdale itself the ACS puts it at 14.4%.
Public schools in Oakdale
3 public schools with 1,235 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakdale Elementary School | PK-4 | 551 | 12.8 |
| Oakdale Middle School | 5-8 | 362 | 11.3 |
| Oakdale High School | 8-12 | 322 | 14.0 |
Towns near Oakdale
- Mamou, LA18.9 mi · 2,936 people · home $86,500
- Ville Platte, LA24.3 mi · 6,303 people · home $101,200
- Eunice, LA26.6 mi · 9,422 people · home $122,000
- Bunkie, LA29.3 mi · 3,346 people · home $93,300
Oakdale questions
Is Oakdale, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Oakdale scores better for retirees than 72% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 63%. 16.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.1).
How much does a house cost in Oakdale?
The median owner-occupied home in Oakdale is valued at $98,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,540, so homes cost about 2.3 times income. Median rent is $873 a month.
What is the weather like in Oakdale?
July highs average 92.3°F and January lows 38.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 62.1 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Oakdale get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Oakdale since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on October 31, 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)