The Town FilesJena, Louisiana
Town in LaSalle Parish · population 4,155 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $139,700
- Household income
- $71,730
- Jan low / Jul high
- 36° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 1 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 19
- Median age
- 34.7
Jena is a town of 4,155 people in LaSalle Parish, Louisiana. The median home is worth $139,700, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). It ranks better for retirees than 95% of Louisiana towns, more of a college town than 94% of Louisiana towns, better for families than 76% of Louisiana towns.
- #2 in The 10 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in Louisiana
- #4 in The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Louisiana
- #4 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Louisiana
- #9 in The 50 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #9 in The 50 Best Affordable Places to Retire in America With Mild Winters
- #13 in The 23 Quietest Small Towns in Louisiana
How Jena 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 Jena is worth $139,700, below the typical Louisiana town ($166,450). Homes cost about 1.9 times the median household income of $71,730, which is more affordable than 92% of Louisiana towns. Median rent is $906 a month. 81.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jena | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $139,700 | $166,450 |
| Median rent | $906 | $887 |
| Median household income | $71,730 | $52,134 |
| Home value ÷ income | 1.9× | 3.0× |
| Homeownership | 81.3% | 70.4% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1979 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.5% | — |
Who lives in Jena
| People | Jena | Typical Louisiana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.7 | 38.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.0% | 17.0% |
| Under 18 | 25.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.8% | 15.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.3% | 20.4% |
| Veterans | 1.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.6% | — |
| Work from home | 6.0% | 4.7% |
| Average commute | 36.4 min | 25.8 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 84.6% |
Weather in Jena
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 36.2°F. About 59.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.5 inches of snow (typical Louisiana town: 0.0 in). Expect about 83 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 Jena since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Louisiana town. 10 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on October 31, 2018 about 2.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 2, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 18 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on March 7, 1998.
Severe weather in LaSalle Parish since 1996
LaSalle Parish has been included in 38 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, 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 LaSalle Parish
LaSalle Parish had 4,680 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,856 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Jena itself the ACS puts it at 1.6%.
Public schools in Jena
5 public schools with 1,564 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jena High School | 9-12 | 503 | 14.8 |
| Jena Elementary School | PK-2 | 392 | 16.3 |
| Goodpine Middle School | 3-5 | 270 | 11.7 |
| Jena Junior High School | 6-8 | 249 | 10.8 |
| Nebo Elementary School | PK-8 | 150 | 12.5 |
Towns near Jena
- Ball, LA25.0 mi · 3,961 people · home $175,800
- Pineville, LA29.1 mi · 14,384 people · home $201,500
Jena questions
Is Jena, Louisiana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jena scores better for retirees than 95% of Louisiana towns and quieter than 71%. 15.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.7).
How much does a house cost in Jena?
The median owner-occupied home in Jena is valued at $139,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $71,730, so homes cost about 1.9 times income. Median rent is $906 a month.
What is the weather like in Jena?
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 36.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 59.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.5 inches of snow.
Does Jena get tornadoes?
19 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Jena since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on October 31, 2018. 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)