The Town FilesGonzales, Louisiana
City in Ascension Parish · population 12,231 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $225,800
- Household income
- $75,451
- Jan low / Jul high
- 42° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 30
- Median age
- 38.9
Gonzales is a city of 12,231 people in Ascension Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $225,800, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks more vibrant than 94% of Louisiana towns, better for first-time buyers than 89% of Louisiana towns, more upscale than 83% of Louisiana towns.
How Gonzales 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 Gonzales is worth $225,800, above the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $75,451, which is more affordable than 52% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $1,497 a month. 63.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Gonzales | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $225,800 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $1,497 | $887 |
| Median household income | $75,451 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 63.6% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1999 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Gonzales
| People | Gonzales | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.9 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.1% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.1% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.0% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.6% | — |
| Work from home | 7.7% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.9% | 84.6% |
Weather in Gonzales
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 41.7°F. About 63.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 80 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 16 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gonzales since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on April 12, 1969 about 1.6 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 96 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on February 15, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 38 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on December 3, 1962.
Severe weather in Ascension Parish since 1996
Ascension Parish has been included in 58 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 Ascension Parish
Ascension Parish had 50,590 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $71,805 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Gonzales itself the ACS puts it at 7.9%.
Public schools in Gonzales
9 public schools with 8,989 students, about 13.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Amant High School | 9-12 | 2,433 | 16.0 |
| East Ascension High School | 9-12 | 2,157 | 14.1 |
| Gonzales Middle School | 6-8 | 800 | 13.3 |
| Central Middle School | 6-8 | 708 | 13.6 |
| Pecan Grove Primary School | PK-5 | 660 | 13.5 |
| G. W. Carver Primary School | PK-5 | 644 | 10.4 |
| Duplessis Primary School | PK-5 | 613 | 12.0 |
| Gonzales Primary School | PK-5 | 496 | 11.0 |
| Central Primary School | PK-5 | 478 | 12.6 |
Towns near Gonzales
- Sorrento, LA3.9 mi · 1,514 people · home $232,200
- Prairieville, LA7.3 mi · 33,197 people · home $317,400
- Lemannville, LA7.7 mi · 695 people · home $75,300
- Union, LA9.0 mi · 735 people · home —
- Donaldsonville, LA9.1 mi · 6,695 people · home $185,900
- Port Vincent, LA9.7 mi · 646 people · home $216,200
- French Settlement, LA10.5 mi · 1,073 people · home $206,000
- St. Gabriel, LA11.0 mi · 6,433 people · home $239,200
Gonzales questions
Is Gonzales, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Gonzales scores better for retirees than 13% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 24%. 17.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.9).
How much does a house cost in Gonzales?
The median owner-occupied home in Gonzales is valued at $225,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $75,451, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $1,497 a month.
What is the weather like in Gonzales?
July highs average 90.6°F and January lows 41.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 63.4 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Gonzales get tornadoes?
30 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Gonzales since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on April 12, 1969. 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)