The Town FilesIndependence, Louisiana
Town in Tangipahoa Parish · population 1,635 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $147,000
- Household income
- $40,268
- Jan low / Jul high
- 39° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 49
- Median age
- 30.0
Independence is a town of 1,635 people in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $147,000, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks hipper than 74% of Louisiana towns.
How Independence 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 Independence is worth $147,000, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $40,268, which is more affordable than 24% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $964 a month. 54.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Independence | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $147,000 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $964 | $887 |
| Median household income | $40,268 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 54.5% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.7% | — |
Who lives in Independence
| People | Independence | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 30.0 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.6% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 32.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.8% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 31.0% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.6% | — |
| Work from home | 0.3% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 27.0 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.5% | 84.6% |
Weather in Independence
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 38.6°F. About 63.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.1 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 94 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 35 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
49 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on February 6, 1953 about 9.8 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 37 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on March 11, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on February 4, 2024.
Severe weather in Tangipahoa Parish since 1996
Tangipahoa Parish has been included in 48 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 Tangipahoa Parish
Tangipahoa Parish had 47,214 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $46,783 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Independence itself the ACS puts it at 14.2%.
Public schools in Independence
3 public schools with 1,097 students, about 15.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independence Leadership Academy | PK-6 | 582 | 18.2 |
| Independence High Magnet | 7-12 | 515 | 16.6 |
| TPSS Advanced College and Career Magnet Center | 11-12 | — | — |
Towns near Independence
- Tickfaw, LA4.2 mi · 635 people · home $180,300
- Natalbany, LA6.1 mi · 2,510 people · home $151,200
- Amite City, LA6.7 mi · 4,005 people · home $112,800
- Roseland, LA8.8 mi · 880 people · home $112,500
- Hammond, LA9.5 mi · 19,584 people · home $221,400
- Albany, LA10.6 mi · 1,235 people · home $203,800
- Ponchatoula, LA14.0 mi · 7,822 people · home $200,300
- Greensburg, LA16.6 mi · 629 people · home $188,800
Independence questions
Is Independence, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Independence scores better for retirees than 33% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 61%. 10.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 30.0).
How much does a house cost in Independence?
The median owner-occupied home in Independence is valued at $147,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $40,268, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $964 a month.
What is the weather like in Independence?
July highs average 90.9°F and January lows 38.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 63.8 inches of precipitation a year and 0.1 inches of snow.
Does Independence get tornadoes?
49 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Independence since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on February 6, 1953. 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)