The Town FilesBenton, Louisiana
Town in Bossier Parish · population 2,048 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $201,000
- Household income
- $58,143
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 38
- Median age
- 35.7
Benton is a town of 2,048 people in Bossier Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $201,000, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks better for families than 83% of Louisiana towns, easier by car than 83% of Louisiana towns, hipper than 73% of Louisiana towns.
How Benton 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 Benton is worth $201,000, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 3.5 times the median household income of $58,143, which is more affordable than 32% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $873 a month. 63.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Benton | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $201,000 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $873 | $887 |
| Median household income | $58,143 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.5× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 63.0% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1981 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Benton
| People | Benton | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.7 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 14.1% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.0% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 23.9% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 1.1% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.7% | 84.6% |
Weather in Benton
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 34.2°F. About 54.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.3 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 86 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 42 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 11 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 3, 1999 about 4.1 miles from the town center and killed 7. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 20 deaths and 412 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on September 24, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 124 times; the largest was 4.00 inches on April 24, 2020.
Severe weather in Bossier Parish since 1996
Bossier Parish has been included in 36 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| 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 Bossier Parish
Bossier Parish had 44,354 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,165 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Benton itself the ACS puts it at 4.1%.
Public schools in Benton
5 public schools with 4,719 students, about 17.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benton High School | 8-12 | 1,568 | 17.8 |
| Benton Intermediate School | 5-6 | 872 | 16.8 |
| Benton Middle School | 6-8 | 833 | 18.1 |
| Kingston Elementary School | K-4 | 806 | 16.8 |
| Benton Elementary School | K-4 | 640 | 16.0 |
Towns near Benton
- Blanchard, LA10.3 mi · 3,538 people · home $208,600
- Red Chute, LA11.1 mi · 7,065 people · home $219,100
- Bossier City, LA12.5 mi · 62,701 people · home $202,100
- Lakeview, LA12.6 mi · 818 people · home $157,100
- Mooringsport, LA12.8 mi · 748 people · home $76,700
- Eastwood, LA13.6 mi · 4,390 people · home $258,100
- Oil City, LA14.2 mi · 901 people · home $70,000
- Plain Dealing, LA15.2 mi · 893 people · home $140,300
Benton questions
Is Benton, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Benton scores better for retirees than 62% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 42%. 14.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.7).
How much does a house cost in Benton?
The median owner-occupied home in Benton is valued at $201,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $58,143, so homes cost about 3.5 times income. Median rent is $873 a month.
What is the weather like in Benton?
July highs average 92.4°F and January lows 34.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 54.0 inches of precipitation a year and 0.3 inches of snow.
Does Benton get tornadoes?
38 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Benton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 3, 1999. 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)