The Town FilesCotton Valley, Louisiana
Town in Webster Parish · population 787 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $68,600
- Household income
- $36,316
- Jan low / Jul high
- 34° / 92°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 36.4
Cotton Valley is a town of 787 people in Webster Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $68,600, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks easier by car than 92% of Louisiana towns, better transit than 77% of Louisiana towns.
How Cotton Valley 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 Cotton Valley is worth $68,600, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $36,316, which is more affordable than 92% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $725 a month. 62.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cotton Valley | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $68,600 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $725 | $887 |
| Median household income | $36,316 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 62.0% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Cotton Valley
| People | Cotton Valley | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.4 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.4% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 29.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 4.5% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.8% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 12.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 29.3 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 66.9% | 84.6% |
Weather in Cotton Valley
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 0.7 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
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cotton Valley since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on February 12, 1950 about 1.6 miles from the town center and killed 9. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 40 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on December 16, 2019.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 14, 2023.
Severe weather in Webster Parish since 1996
Webster Parish has been included in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| February 18, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4900: Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Webster Parish
Webster Parish had 11,054 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,290 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Cotton Valley itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Cotton Valley
1 public school with 150 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Webster Upper Elementary School | 3-5 | 150 | 16.7 |
Towns near Cotton Valley
- Sarepta, LA5.9 mi · 717 people · home $83,200
- Cullen, LA10.7 mi · 716 people · home $69,400
- Springhill, LA13.2 mi · 4,801 people · home $97,500
- Minden, LA16.0 mi · 11,928 people · home $130,200
- Plain Dealing, LA17.3 mi · 893 people · home $140,300
- Eastwood, LA19.2 mi · 4,390 people · home $258,100
- Haynesville, LA19.6 mi · 2,039 people · home $58,700
- Taylor, AR19.9 mi · 579 people · home $106,700
Cotton Valley questions
Is Cotton Valley, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cotton Valley scores better for retirees than 10% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 58%. 20.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 36.4).
How much does a house cost in Cotton Valley?
The median owner-occupied home in Cotton Valley is valued at $68,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $36,316, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $725 a month.
What is the weather like in Cotton Valley?
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 0.7 inches of snow.
Does Cotton Valley get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cotton Valley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on February 12, 1950. 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)