The Town FilesCatahoula, Louisiana
Community in St. Martin Parish · population 988 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,600
- Household income
- $44,539
- Jan low / Jul high
- 43° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 60.6
Catahoula is a community of 988 people in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $151,600, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks quieter than 96% of Louisiana towns, better for families than 94% of Louisiana towns, better for a vacation home than 94% of Louisiana towns.
How Catahoula 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 Catahoula is worth $151,600, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 3.4 times the median household income of $44,539, which is more affordable than 36% of Louisiana towns. 100.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Catahoula | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,600 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | — | $887 |
| Median household income | $44,539 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.4× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 100.0% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.9% | — |
Who lives in Catahoula
| People | Catahoula | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 60.6 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 41.9% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 7.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 9.8% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.8% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 11.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 4.7% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 38.6 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.4% | 84.6% |
Weather in Catahoula
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 42.5°F. About 66.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 66 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 14 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Catahoula since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on May 13, 2024 about 8.7 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 2 deaths and 17 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on May 13, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 16 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on April 24, 2015.
Severe weather in St. Martin Parish since 1996
St. Martin Parish has been included in 54 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 13, 2021 | Coastal Storm | EM-3574: Tropical Storm Nicholas |
| August 29, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4611: Hurricane Ida |
Jobs and pay in St. Martin Parish
St. Martin Parish had 12,308 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $53,750 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Catahoula itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Towns near Catahoula
- Parks, LA6.5 mi · 640 people · home $152,600
- Henderson, LA8.9 mi · 1,617 people · home $93,800
- St. Martinville, LA8.9 mi · 5,379 people · home $100,100
- Loreauville, LA10.6 mi · 658 people · home $132,400
- Cecilia, LA11.5 mi · 1,807 people · home —
- Breaux Bridge, LA12.2 mi · 7,513 people · home $175,900
- Cade, LA13.6 mi · 1,874 people · home $204,900
- Broussard, LA15.0 mi · 13,417 people · home $310,200
Catahoula questions
Is Catahoula, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Catahoula scores better for retirees than 63% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 96%. 41.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 60.6).
How much does a house cost in Catahoula?
The median owner-occupied home in Catahoula is valued at $151,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $44,539, so homes cost about 3.4 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Catahoula?
July highs average 89.7°F and January lows 42.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 66.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Catahoula get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Catahoula since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on May 13, 2024. 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)