The Town FilesAlexandria, Louisiana
City in Rapides Parish · population 45,275 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $183,700
- Household income
- $47,113
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 46
- Median age
- 37.6
Alexandria is a city of 45,275 people in Rapides Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $183,700, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks better transit than 97% of Louisiana towns, more vibrant than 88% of Louisiana towns, better for young professionals than 86% of Louisiana towns.
How Alexandria 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 Alexandria is worth $183,700, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $47,113, which is more affordable than 21% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $931 a month. 51.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Alexandria | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $183,700 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $931 | $887 |
| Median household income | $47,113 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 51.9% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.3% | — |
Who lives in Alexandria
| People | Alexandria | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.6 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.3% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.0% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 17.4 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 87.9% | 84.6% |
Weather in Alexandria
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 38.5°F. About 60.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.4 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 93 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 24 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alexandria since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 18 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on December 3, 1953 about 3.1 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 58 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on November 20, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 12, 2003.
Severe weather in Rapides Parish since 1996
Rapides Parish has been included in 49 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 |
| August 30, 2023 | Fire | FM-5486: Highway 113 Fire |
| September 13, 2021 | Coastal Storm | EM-3574: Tropical Storm Nicholas |
| August 29, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4611: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in Rapides Parish
Rapides Parish had 56,422 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,777 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Alexandria itself the ACS puts it at 5.2%.
Public schools in Alexandria
21 public schools with 9,915 students, about 14.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria Senior High School | 9-12 | 1,558 | 18.5 |
| Scott M. Brame Middle School | 6-8 | 791 | 16.1 |
| Peabody Magnet High School | 9-12 | 779 | 14.7 |
| Cherokee Elementary School | PK-5 | 600 | 14.6 |
| J.B. Nachman Elementary School | PK-5 | 595 | 16.1 |
| Alexandria Middle Magnet School | 5-8 | 591 | 14.1 |
| Bolton High School | 9-12 | 561 | 10.6 |
| Mabel Brasher Montessori | PK-5 | 547 | 15.2 |
| Peabody Montessori Elementary School | PK-6 | 481 | 15.5 |
| Arthur F. Smith Middle Magnet School | 6-8 | 415 | 11.9 |
| D.F. Huddle Elementary | PK-4 | 391 | 13.0 |
| L.S. Rugg Elementary School | PK-5 | 391 | 13.5 |
Towns near Alexandria
- Pineville, LA5.0 mi · 14,384 people · home $201,500
- Ball, LA9.4 mi · 3,961 people · home $175,800
- Marksville, LA26.6 mi · 5,065 people · home $151,900
- Bunkie, LA28.8 mi · 3,346 people · home $93,300
Alexandria questions
Is Alexandria, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Alexandria scores better for retirees than 36% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 11%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.6).
How much does a house cost in Alexandria?
The median owner-occupied home in Alexandria is valued at $183,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,113, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $931 a month.
What is the weather like in Alexandria?
July highs average 91.7°F and January lows 38.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 60.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.4 inches of snow.
Does Alexandria get tornadoes?
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Alexandria since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on December 3, 1953. 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)