The Town FilesPatterson, Louisiana
City in St. Mary Parish · population 5,931 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $160,400
- Household income
- $49,886
- Jan low / Jul high
- 45° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 13
- Median age
- 36.3
Patterson is a city of 5,931 people in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $160,400, close to the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks more seaside character than 96% of Louisiana towns, better for cycling than 91% of Louisiana towns, more walkable than 85% of Louisiana towns.
How Patterson 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 Patterson is worth $160,400, close to the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $49,886, which is more affordable than 44% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $878 a month. 56.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Patterson | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $160,400 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $878 | $887 |
| Median household income | $49,886 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 56.2% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Patterson
| People | Patterson | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.2% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 30.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.0% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 22.9% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 10.3% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 31.3 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.4% | 84.6% |
Weather in Patterson
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 45.4°F. About 58.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 53 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 7 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Patterson since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on March 17, 1970 about 0.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 14, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 9 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on December 30, 2006.
Severe weather in St. Mary Parish since 1996
St. Mary Parish has been included in 49 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. Mary Parish
St. Mary Parish had 19,838 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $61,932 a year. Unemployment was 4.2% in 2023; in Patterson itself the ACS puts it at 9.5%.
Public schools in Patterson
3 public schools with 1,453 students, about 15.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hattie A. Watts Elementary School | PK-4 | 604 | 15.5 |
| Patterson High School | 9-12 | 450 | 16.7 |
| Patterson Junior High School | 5-8 | 399 | 14.8 |
Towns near Patterson
- Bayou Vista, LA2.6 mi · 4,213 people · home $144,700
- Berwick, LA4.5 mi · 4,771 people · home $212,400
- Morgan City, LA7.2 mi · 11,472 people · home $155,200
- Franklin, LA13.6 mi · 6,728 people · home $104,400
- Pierre Part, LA19.4 mi · 3,024 people · home $176,000
- Jeanerette, LA26.9 mi · 4,813 people · home $98,200
- Schriever, LA28.6 mi · 6,711 people · home $179,300
Patterson questions
Is Patterson, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Patterson scores better for retirees than 26% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 19%. 14.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.3).
How much does a house cost in Patterson?
The median owner-occupied home in Patterson is valued at $160,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,886, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $878 a month.
What is the weather like in Patterson?
July highs average 90.5°F and January lows 45.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 58.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Patterson get tornadoes?
13 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Patterson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on March 17, 1970. 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)