The Town FilesBuras, Louisiana
Community in Plaquemines Parish · population 1,109 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $45,300
- Household income
- $54,167
- Jan low / Jul high
- 47° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 56.2
Buras is a community of 1,109 people in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $45,300, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks better for families than 86% of Louisiana towns, quieter than 83% of Louisiana towns.
- #2 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Louisiana
- #2 in 25 Small Towns in Louisiana With the Cheapest Homes
- #2 in 25 Small Towns in Louisiana With the Mildest Winters
- #21 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Young Families in Louisiana
- #48 in The 50 Most Affordable Small Towns in America
- #48 in The 50 Most Affordable Places in America
How Buras 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 Buras is worth $45,300, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 0.8 times the median household income of $54,167, which is more affordable than 100% of Louisiana towns. 84.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Buras | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $45,300 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | — | $887 |
| Median household income | $54,167 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 0.8× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 84.9% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 2004 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 9.7% | — |
Who lives in Buras
| People | Buras | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.2 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.1% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4.0% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 32.1% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 0.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 37.7% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 22.2 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 72.4% | 84.6% |
Weather in Buras
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 46.6°F. About 62.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 34 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 3 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buras since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on October 30, 1967 about 0.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on January 26, 2012.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 4 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on January 22, 1956.
Severe weather in Plaquemines Parish since 1996
Plaquemines Parish has been included in 45 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 Plaquemines Parish
Plaquemines Parish had 12,528 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $88,198 a year. Unemployment was 3.3% in 2023; in Buras itself the ACS puts it at 12.5%.
Public schools in Buras
1 public school with 402 students, about 12.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Plaquemines High School | 7-12 | 402 | 12.6 |
Towns near Buras
- Boothville, LA7.3 mi · 718 people · home $65,700
- Empire, LA8.3 mi · 905 people · home $152,900
- Port Sulphur, LA15.8 mi · 1,677 people · home $84,200
Buras questions
Is Buras, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Buras scores better for retirees than 1% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 83%. 21.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 56.2).
How much does a house cost in Buras?
The median owner-occupied home in Buras is valued at $45,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $54,167, so homes cost about 0.8 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Buras?
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 46.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 62.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Buras get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Buras since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on October 30, 1967. 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)