The Town FilesDuson, Louisiana
Town in Lafayette Parish · population 1,326 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $54,300
- Household income
- $25,054
- Jan low / Jul high
- 41° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 46
- Median age
- 42.0
Duson is a town of 1,326 people in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $54,300, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 84% of Louisiana towns, quieter than 80% of Louisiana towns, better transit than 76% of Louisiana towns.
How Duson 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 Duson is worth $54,300, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 2.2 times the median household income of $25,054, which is more affordable than 85% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $743 a month. 62.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Duson | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $54,300 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $743 | $887 |
| Median household income | $25,054 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.2× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 62.4% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1988 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Duson
| People | Duson | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.7% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 11.1% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 39.3% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.8% | — |
| Work from home | 3.8% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 25.3 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 82.0% | 84.6% |
Weather in Duson
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 41.2°F. About 64.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 81 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 18 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Duson since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 13 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on October 29, 1974 about 8.2 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 9 deaths and 71 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 14, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 43 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 6, 2025.
Severe weather in Lafayette Parish since 1996
Lafayette Parish has been included in 43 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 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 Lafayette Parish
Lafayette Parish had 137,173 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $58,120 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Duson itself the ACS puts it at 10.6%.
Public schools in Duson
4 public schools with 2,054 students, about 15.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ridge Elementary School | PK-5 | 676 | 16.9 |
| Charles M. Burke Elementary School | PK-5 | 624 | 13.9 |
| Judice Middle School | 6-8 | 528 | 18.9 |
| Duson Elementary School | PK-5 | 226 | 14.1 |
Towns near Duson
- Rayne, LA4.7 mi · 7,236 people · home $156,500
- Scott, LA5.6 mi · 8,119 people · home $170,300
- Ossun, LA5.8 mi · 2,145 people · home —
- Cankton, LA8.7 mi · 583 people · home $191,100
- Lafayette, LA9.9 mi · 121,374 people · home $257,000
- Maurice, LA10.1 mi · 2,118 people · home $241,000
- Carencro, LA10.3 mi · 9,272 people · home $214,800
- Crowley, LA11.2 mi · 11,710 people · home $144,900
Duson questions
Is Duson, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Duson scores better for retirees than 16% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 80%. 13.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.0).
How much does a house cost in Duson?
The median owner-occupied home in Duson is valued at $54,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $25,054, so homes cost about 2.2 times income. Median rent is $743 a month.
What is the weather like in Duson?
July highs average 91.0°F and January lows 41.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 64.7 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Duson get tornadoes?
46 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Duson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on October 29, 1974. 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)