The Town FilesCentral, Louisiana
City in East Baton Rouge Parish · population 29,565 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $288,700
- Household income
- $89,554
- Jan low / Jul high
- 42° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 32
- Median age
- 40.4
Central is a city of 29,565 people in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $288,700, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks more upscale than 93% of Louisiana towns, better for families than 90% of Louisiana towns, more of a college town than 90% of Louisiana towns.
How Central 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 Central is worth $288,700, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $89,554, which is more affordable than 44% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $1,309 a month. 88.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Central | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $288,700 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $1,309 | $887 |
| Median household income | $89,554 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 88.8% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1990 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Central
| People | Central | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.4% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.3% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.4% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.3% | — |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 29.0 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.4% | 84.6% |
Weather in Central
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 41.6°F. About 61.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 96 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 18 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on February 7, 2017 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on December 28, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 72 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on September 28, 2011.
Severe weather in East Baton Rouge Parish since 1996
East Baton Rouge Parish has been included in 47 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 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 East Baton Rouge Parish
East Baton Rouge Parish had 270,603 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,778 a year. Unemployment was 3.4% in 2023; in Central itself the ACS puts it at 2.2%.
Public schools in Central
2 public schools with 2,143 students, about 15.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Middle School | 6-8 | 1,086 | 14.3 |
| Central Intermediate School | 3-5 | 1,057 | 16.0 |
Towns near Central
- Monticello, LA5.0 mi · 5,431 people · home $176,000
- Watson, LA5.2 mi · 956 people · home $252,000
- Brownfields, LA5.4 mi · 5,145 people · home $207,200
- Merrydale, LA6.0 mi · 9,227 people · home $136,100
- Denham Springs, LA7.4 mi · 9,286 people · home $188,200
- Baker, LA7.5 mi · 12,455 people · home $157,900
- Baton Rouge, LA9.9 mi · 227,470 people · home $234,700
- Zachary, LA10.6 mi · 19,316 people · home $259,100
Central questions
Is Central, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Central scores better for retirees than 62% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 34%. 18.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.4).
How much does a house cost in Central?
The median owner-occupied home in Central is valued at $288,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $89,554, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $1,309 a month.
What is the weather like in Central?
July highs average 91.9°F and January lows 41.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 61.9 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Central get tornadoes?
32 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Central since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on February 7, 2017. 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)