The Town FilesEmpire, Louisiana
Community in Plaquemines Parish · population 905 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $152,900
- Household income
- $47,083
- Jan low / Jul high
- 47° / 90°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 28.9
Empire is a community of 905 people in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $152,900, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks more seaside character than 97% of Louisiana towns, quieter than 88% of Louisiana towns.
How Empire 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 Empire is worth $152,900, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $47,083, which is more affordable than 44% of Louisiana towns. 91.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Empire | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $152,900 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | — | $887 |
| Median household income | $47,083 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 91.3% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 2005 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.5% | — |
Who lives in Empire
| People | Empire | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.9 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.5% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 38.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 8.7% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 26.8% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 2.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.5% | — |
| Work from home | 15.5% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 18.0 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 70.1% | 84.6% |
Weather in Empire
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
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Empire 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 8.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on March 4, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 3 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 15, 1955.
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 Empire itself the ACS puts it at 6.2%.
Towns near Empire
- Port Sulphur, LA7.7 mi · 1,677 people · home $84,200
- Buras, LA8.3 mi · 1,109 people · home $45,300
- Boothville, LA14.8 mi · 718 people · home $65,700
- Grand Isle, LA29.7 mi · 1,005 people · home $269,500
Empire questions
Is Empire, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Empire scores better for retirees than 23% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 88%. 10.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.9).
How much does a house cost in Empire?
The median owner-occupied home in Empire is valued at $152,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $47,083, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Empire?
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 Empire get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Empire 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)